Biodiversity

Jump to each topic by clicking on the relevant box below

Define the term biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of different species occupying an area. This term is also applied on a global scale.

Why is global biodiversity declining? Biodiversity is in decline due to human activities on land and water, and human-caused climate change. Habitat loss for farmland and other developments is a major cause, as is hunting of wild fish stocks and pollution. Climate change is altering weather patterns, meaning some species cannot adapt as quickly as change is happening. Ocean heating is another major factor leading to biodiversity loss.

Why is biodiversity important? Species are interdependent on each other, as seen in food webs. The more biodiversity there is, the more stable a food web is. This is essential for human survival as people rely on natural systems - for example those included within ecosystem services. Biodiversity is the result of billions of years of evolution. In the face of climate change, genetic diversity amongst species is essential in the capacity for life to adapt to our changing planet.

How can horticulture contribute to biodiversity loss? Horticulture can change land use, such as the creation of parks with large areas of turf, which is low in biodiversity. Use of pesticides kills organisms, and use of synthetic fertiliser damages the soil ecosystem. Primary soil cultivation, such as ploughing, digging or rotavating, damages soil and harms soil life.

Food Chains.

Decide if the statements below are true or false:

Producers include herbivores such as aphids and caterpillars.
The source of energy for all land-based food chains is plants.
Photosynthesis is the chemical reaction underpinning food chains.
Consumers are all carnivores.
Natural predators are important parts of garden food chains.
Plants are consumed by herbivores and omnivores.
Most herbivores only consume one species of plant.
Pollinators are not part of food chains.

True/False Answers 1. False (plants are producers) 2. False (sunlight is the source of energy) 3. True 4. False (some are herbivores or omnivores) 5. True 6. True 7. False (few herbivores are specific to one plant species) 8. False

Arrange the stages of a food chain into its correct order:

Secondary consumer

Tertiary consumer

Primary consumer

Producer

Answer Producer -> primary consumer -> secondary consumer -> tertiary consumer

Arrange this example of a garden food chain into a logical order:

Goldfinch

Cabbage plant

Cat

Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar

Answer Cabbage plant -> cabbage white butterfly caterpillar -> goldfinch -> cat

What happens to organic waste and dead organisms?

What is a food web?

Small blue butterfly caterpillars only feed on kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria). This plant only grows on chalk grasslands, cliffs and sand dunes.

An area of chalk grassland is to be developed as a playing field. What implications does this have on the small blue butterfly?
How can local residents use their gardens to mitigate for the loss of habitat?

1. An area of chalk grassland is to be developed as a playing field. What implications does this have on the small blue butterfly?

There will be a reduction in its caterpillar's food source, meaning the population of small blue butterfly will decline.

2. How can local gardeners mitigate for the loss of habitat?

Local residents can recreate similar conditions and seed or plant kidney vetch into home gardens, community gardens and other community green spaces. For example, allowing lawns (if on chalky soil) to grow longer and support kidney vetch populations. Alternatively they could create a rock garden or install raised alpine-style planters to recreate the cliff-like habitat that kidney vetch also grows in. The plant could be seeded or planted into these.

This will provide a food source for the existing population of small blue butterfly to lay eggs on, meaning the population reduction won't be as severe.

Some gardeners want to focus on maximising biodiversity in their gardens. What garden style is most compatible with this?

How are attitudes changing toward plants traditionally perceived as weeds?

In light of global biodiversity loss and the role private gardens and public green space can play in reducing this, not all plants traditionally considered weeds are removed. Gardeners are becoming more discerning in leaving self-seeded plants, such as a patch of nettles (Urtica dioica) growing through a hedge as fodder for peacock butterfly caterpillars. Lawns are less likely to be treated with selective herbicides so pollinator-attracting plants such as dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) can prosper.

Each number relates to a specific word, so if you think (1)________ is 'bananas' then if (1)________ appears later on in the passage, 'bananas' is the missing word.

Private gardens, public parks, gardens and other green spaces can maximise their biodiversity by increasing their range of (1) h________. The major (1) h________ types include woodland, woodland edge, (2) s________, (3) w________ m________, (4) p________ and bogs. By maximising the range of (1) h________, (5) ________ diversity increases, which is important as (5) ________ are the base of food chains. By maximising their diversity, a greater range of (6) ________ consumers can feed within the area, supporting (7) ________ consumers and (8) ________ consumers.

Gardeners and green space managers can facilitate changes, such as stopping use of (9) ________ herbicides on turf, allowing turf to grow longer, allowing (10) ________ plants to grow beneath hedgerows, and allowing borders to become a little 'wilder' be retaining (11) ________-________ plants rather than weeding them all out.

It's also important to eliminate the use of (12) ________ as these kill organisms. Instead, natural (13) ________ should be encouraged. Use of (14) ________, for example on rose blackspot or powdery mildew on ornamental plants, should be eliminated. Instead, (15) ________ varieties should be grown as these are less susceptible to the pathogen.

Where it's safe to do so, a wildlife (4) p________ can add a significant boost to biodiversity as they support aquatic life and provide a permanent water source for wildlife.

Private gardens, public parks, gardens and other green spaces can maximise their biodiversity by increasing their range of (1) habitats. The major (1) habitat types include woodland, woodland edge, (2) scrubland, (3) wildflower meadow, (4) ponds and bogs. By maximising the range of (1) habitats, (5) plant diversity increases, which is important as (5) plants are the base of food chains. By maximising their diversity, a greater range of (6) primary consumers can feed within the area, supporting (7) secondary consumers and (8) tertiary consumers.

Gardeners and green space managers can facilitate changes, such as stopping use of (9) selective herbicides on turf, allowing turf to grow longer, allowing (10) herbaceous plants to grow beneath hedgerows, and allowing borders to become a little 'wilder' be retaining (11) self-seeded plants rather than weeding them all out.

It's also important to eliminate the use of (12) pesticides as these kill organisms. Instead, natural (13) predators should be encouraged. Use of (14) fungicides, for example on rose blackspot or powdery mildew on ornamental plants*, should be eliminated. Instead, (15) resistant varieties should be grown as these are less susceptible to the pathogen.

Where it's safe to do so, a wildlife (4) pond can add a significant boost to biodiversity as they support aquatic life and provide a permanent water source for wildlife.

*Note - fungicides available to home gardeners for use on powdery mildew are not suitable for use on edible crops

Hint: the missing words in a random order pesticides, primary, herbaceous, ponds, plant(s), resistant, tertiary, self-seeded, fungicides, scrubland, selective, habitat(s), predators, resistant, wildflower meadow

Extra Hint: (1) habitat(s)

Extra Hint: (2) scrubland

Extra Hint: (3) wildflower meadow

Extra Hint: (4) pond(s)

Extra Hint: (5) plant

Extra Hint: (6) primary

Extra Hint: (7) secondary

Extra Hint: (8) tertiary

Extra Hint: (9) selective

Extra Hint: (10) herbaceous

Extra Hint: (11) self-seeded

Extra Hint: (12) pesticides

Extra Hint: (13) predators

Extra Hint: (14) fungicides

Extra Hint: (15) resistant

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The expected changes to UK weather as a result of climate change were covered in Unit 2, Topic 3, Element 2. They are summarised below:

Stormier winters with heavier rainfall events and stronger wind events. Overall milder winters with less frost, but cold snaps will still occur. Winters are not expected to gain sunshine hours - they are likely to remain predominantly cloudy.
Spring weather is likely to arrive earlier, on average, and mild weather is expected to persist longer into autumn.
Summers are likely to have longer and hotter heatwaves, and longer periods without rainfall.

Existing Plantings.

State the impact of climate change on existing plantings under the headings below.
For each heading give potential solutions or implications (as indicated).

a. Water management (irrigation) Existing plantings will experience longer time periods without rainfall in summer leading to dry soil. This will negatively impact plants that grow continuously through summer as they will lack water to support this growth. Therefore irrigation will be needed to prevent a decline in plant health. Increased irrigation during dry weather is not a sustainable option when water supplies are under pressure.

a. Potential solutions Maintain a mulch on the soil surface to reduce evaporative water loss from the soil, slowing the rate at which it dries. Install waterbutts and aim to spot-water plants using saved water as needed. Only water in the evening to so it can soak into the soil with minimum evaporative losses. Move or replace plants in positions where they will suffer a decline in health due to prolonged dry soil. Replace with plants adapted for dry summer conditions, such hardy plants from mediterranean climates. Signs of tolerance to dry conditions include adaptations such as a thick waxy cuticle, densely hirsute leaves, rolled leaves, grey-green leaves, succulent leaves, reduced leaves and those with high concentrations of aromatic leaf oils.

d. Hardiness With winters expected to become milder with less frost, plants that are currently unlikely to survive winter will become more reliable. Half-hardy plants (RHS H3), which tolerate temperatures down to -5c, are more likely to survive. Previously these may only have been treated as annual summer interest plants.

d. Implications This extends the range of plants that can be used in gardens, including half-hardy plants from mediterranean climates that are currently used as summer bedding/for summer interest.

b. Heat tolerance Native plants that are not heat tolerant, and non-native plants from cool-summer climates will decline in health during very hot weather, especially if it's prolonged and combined with dry soil. Extreme heat can kill plants that are not adapted to survive very high temperatures. Some plants, such as fruiting bushes and trees, may drop some or all of their developing fruit, reducing yield. Some vegetable plants, such as lettuce, spinach and beetroot, may bolt, ruining potential harvests.

b. Potential solutions Move plants that are not heat tolerant into shadier places, especially into localities that receive midday and afternoon shade. Plant heat tolerant trees of a suitable size for the garden. These will cast shade and cool the air via transpiration, reducing potential temperature extremes. Replace plants with species that are tolerant of high temperatures, such as those from hot continental summers, e.g. prairie plants, or from mediterranean climates. Signs of tolerance to hot, dry conditions include adaptations such as a thick waxy cuticle, densely hirsute leaves, rolled leaves, grey-green leaves, succulent leaves, reduced leaves and those with high concentrations of aromatic leaf oils.

e. Pests and pathogens Increased rain and wind may increase the prevalence and spread of fungal diseases, e.g. spores spread via water droplets and airborne spores. This could lead to an increased incidence of disease and resulting decline in plant health. With milder winters, some pests may extend their range to more northerly areas, causing declines in plant health. Hotter, drier summers will likely see increased incidence of pathogens such as powdery mildew, and pests such as two spitted mite, which perform best in these conditions. Susceptible plants will increasingly be affected and suffer a decline in health.

e. Potential solutions Remove highly susceptible plants and replace with different species that are not affected, or resistant cultivars. Do not plant monocultures of susceptible plants where rapid spread occurs when plants are in proximity, e.g. rain splash or pests crawling from leaf to leaf. Space susceptible species out in this instance. Ensure best gardening practice is followed, e.g. mulching beds to reduce soil drying, or taking measures to maximise the presence of natural predators in gardens. This is likely to reduce the severity of pest or pathogen attack.

c. Humidity In winter, increased rainfall and cool, cloudy conditions will result in high humidity. This can cause increased prevalence of fungal pathogens such as grey mould (Botrytis cinerea). Combined with wet soils this can lead to increased incidence of disease in plants, especially those that are not adapted to wet winters. If there is an increased incidence of prolonged high temperatures coinciding with dry weather in summer, humidity may become lower. This will increase the rate of transpiration from plants, increasing the rate of soil drying and onset of drought conditions for some plants. These will decline in health.

c. Potential solutions To reduce high humidity in winter, good airflow should be maintained through gardens. This needs to be balanced with buffering high winds. Deciduous hedges, trees and shrubs will allow more airflow through gardens in winter, aiding dispersal of high humidity. Trees and shrubs can be thinned to remove any congested branches, improving airflow. Any branches or twigs showing signs of disease should also be removed. Plants that are susceptible to developing fungal infections as a result of remaining cool and damp for prolonged periods should be moved to bright, windier locations to expedite drying, or removed. Replacement plants should be tolerant of damp winter weather with high humidity. Plants that are tolerant of drier summers will be more tolerant of low summer humidity. These should be the preference for use in gardens. Signs of tolerance to dry conditions, including low humidity, include adaptations such as a thick waxy cuticle, densely hirsute leaves, rolled leaves, grey-green leaves, succulent leaves, reduced leaves and those with high concentrations of aromatic leaf oils.

f. Increased high wind events in winter Woody plants may suffer from increased mechanical stress, resulting in broken branches or totally blowing over. Broken branches result in entry points for pathogens.

f. Potential solutions Plant hedgerows and small - medium trees (depending on garden size) to buffer prevailing winds (these come from the south west), reducing wind intensity. Tree surgeons can inspect large trees and take preventative action if signs of weakness are seen, preventing damage. Plant an understory of shrubs beneath trees to further buffer winds. All new plantings should be selected to be tolerant of wind.

Define the term phenology
What are the main phenological factors that affect plant development in the UK climate?
How is climate change affecting plants in relation to phenology?
How can horticulturalists overcome these issues?

1. Define the term phenology

Phenology is the response of plant growth patterns to cyclical changes such as seasonal temperature changes, day length and rainfall.

2. What are the main phenological factors that affect plant development in the UK climate?

Temperature changes and day length changes through the year

3. How is climate change affecting plants in relation to phenology?

Milder winters are affecting some plants that are evolved to require a number of 'chill hours' to trigger development of e.g. flower buds. This is a major issue for orchard trees such as apples setting a high bud count. Depending on the apple variety, each requires a set number of chill hours when temperatures are below 7C but above freezing. Broadly, around 1000 winter chill hours is necessary. Milder winters with increased occurrence of temperatures warmer than 7C is reducing the likelihood of sufficient chill hours occurring. This means fewer flowers and ultimately fewer apples.

4. How can horticulturalists overcome these issues?

Plants that require a high number of chill hours should be avoided in favour of varieties, often bred in warmer climates, which don't need as many chill hours. For example, Malus 'Granny Smith' only requires around 500 chilling hours; it was bred in a warmer climate region in Australia. In extreme cases where trees requiring a very large number of chill hours are no longer able to perform satisfactorily, consideration of replacement may be necessary in commercial situations. However, veteran trees are high value additions to gardens so horticulturalists should consider whether there is net overall value gained by removal and replacement with a young tree.

How can non-native plants be used to benefit biodiversity in gardens in response to climate change?

Non-native plants can be selected to provide food for native garden wildlife at times when, due to climate change, native plants may not offer significant food.

With milder winters occurring, pollinators such as bumblebees may increasingly fly on mild days. Planting non-native winter flowering plants such as Mahonia x media or Eranthus hyemalis means there's an increased winter nectar provision vs. using native plants alone.

As summers experience hotter temperatures and prolonged dry weather, many summer flowering natives may suffer from heat and drought stress. This reduces their foliage fodder and nectar offering, and therefore subsequent fruit and seed production, further reducing food for wildlife. Non-natives from hot summer regions that are more tolerant of dry soil, such as prairie plants and those from mediterranean climates, are better able to withstand the hot, dry weather. They therefore continue to produce nectar and have increased foliage fodder for wildlife. Some species also flower well into autumn unlike many native species. This is useful for nectar provision during increasingly mild autumns.

Evergreen non-native shrubs and small trees can be used to create increased shelter from high wind events compared to deciduous species (note - not tightly clipped evergreen hedges as these cause eddy's). This can benefit e.g. leaf piles and log piles from excessive winter wet, or reduce wind speeds to better allow pollinators to fly in winter and spring - this can benefit crop pollination.

What are the disadvantages of using non-native plants to garden food chains?

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Define the term habitat

Why is it important to understand the habitat a plant species is from before placing it in a garden?

Different plant species have evolved in different types of habitat, each having different conditions. When placing a plant species into a garden it needs to experience conditions that are somewhat similar to its natural habitat.

For example, some species of fern have evolved to live in the understory of a deciduous woodland habitat. They should be planted under deciduous woody plants within a garden, or a shady spot e.g. north facing walls, as this more closely replicates the conditions they evolved in. If they are planted in conditions too dissimilar from those they're evolved to, such as full sun, they are unlikely to thrive and are highly likely to decline in health, eventually dying.

What is the impact of agricultural land on biodiversity?

Agricultural land typically aims to grow crop monocultures or grass as pasture. Both of these are low in plant biodiversity, therefore supporting few primary consumers (and, in turn, organisms further along the food chain). Many arable farmers also spray pesticides to kill primary consumers, further depleting biodiversity.

Hedgerows between fields are relatively biodiverse. However, mechanisation of farming has led to their removal compared to pre-industrial times. Loss of hedgerows and chemical usage means farmland is less biodiverse that in used to be.

Compare potential garden biodiversity with that of an adjacent agricultural field.

Habitat types.

Match the habitat type (letters) to the descriptions (numbers). Each habitat type has more two matching numbers.

A. Woodland

B. Woodland edge

C. Scrubland

D. Wildflower meadow

E. Lake and pond

F. Bog

Mix of shrubs and herbaceous plants
This is an aquatic habitat
Forms a boundary zone between treed and open habitat types
This will usually develop over several years if a wildflower meadow is left uncut.
Has a mix of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants
Some areas of this valuable habitat has been destroyed for peat extraction in the UK
Will develop naturally on thin soils over chalk bedrock
A place with permanently saturated soil that is not permanently underwater
Has a layered nature with largely continuous woody plant canopy, understory trees and shrubs, and herbaceous ground layer
Usually contains a great diversity of of herbaceous plants, especially on low-nutrient soils.
This is a depression that's permanently water-filled
Conditions for ground level herbaceous plants are shady in summer

Answers A: 9, 12 B: 3, 5 C: 1, 4 D: 7, 10 E: 2, 11 F: 6, 8

Habitat types.

For each habitat listed below, describe a garden situation where qualities of this habitat are most closely matched.

Woodland Areas with trees, casting continuous shade through summer. This could be found in areas specifically planted as woodlands in (usually larger) gardens, wooded wind break areas or small copses of trees.

Woodland edge Where trees are underplanted at their canopy edges and beyond with shrubs and herbaceous perennials, which open into unshaded areas.

Scrubland This is found in mixed borders where shrubs and herbaceous plants are grown together. It is also found with hedgerows that are not trimmed frequently (i.e. trimmed only once per year after bird nesting season, ideally late September or October) that are adjacent to herbaceous borders, mixed borders or meadow.

Wildflower meadow Gardens can have areas that are managed as meadows, such as converted areas of once-lawns, or areas beneath and between orchard trees. Herbaceous borders also replicate elements of wildflower meadows, such as a diversity of insect pollinated plants, often interspersed with (ornamental) grass species. However, herbaceous borders usually have a much lower proportion of native species.

Lake and pond Gardens can have ponds installed. If these have sloping sides and are planted with aquatic plants and marginals, they emulate natural ponds.

Bog Garden ponds can often have an adjacent, lined area with permanently saturated soil that acts as a bog, allowing bog plants to be grown. Marginal areas of ponds have conditions suitable for bog plants to grow if saturated growing media is present. Potted bog plants can also be grown in marginal areas (not submerged).

Match each type of garden planting (letters) to its benefit for wildlife (numbers). There may be more than one benefit for each letter, and each benefit may match more than one letter.

E.g. Y could match to 1, 7, 9; Z could match to 1, 4, 8 (i.e. 1 matches to both letters)

(Note there is no Y or Z below, so no answers have been given)

A. Woody plants

B. Dense herbaceous growth

C. Insect pollinated flowers

D. Fruit, seed and nut bearing plants

E. Hedgerows

F. Open water e.g. ponds

G. Rock or scree gardens

H. Compost bays

I. Soil

J. Log piles

K. Leaf and twig piles

L. Support structures covered with climbing plants

M. Bird and bat boxes

N. Hedgehog houses

O. Bug hotels

P. Bird feeders

Answers A: 3, 5, 11 (some species), 15, 21 (some species), 22 B: 2, 11 (some species), 17, 22 C: 11 D: 21, 22 E: 1, 3, 11 (some species), 15, 21 (some species), 22 F: 8, 19 G: 4, 15 H: 7, 15, 16, 23 I: 10, 18 J: 5, 7, 15, K: 2, 7, 15, 16, 20 L: 3, 11 (some species), 12, 15, 22 M: 3, 14 N: 6, 7 (but as leaves are dry it's not a major benefit), 15 (though these may be eaten by hedgehogs), 16 O: 2, 7, 15 P: 9, 13, 21 (and other seasons if filled)

Act as wildlife corridors, providing cover and connecting areas
Overwintering invertebrates may hide in dead, hollow stems
Nesting sites for birds
Has an abundance of hard surfaces open to the sun for reptiles and invertebrates to warm themselves in the sun
Some beetle larvae consume this material
Should be filled with dead leaves to insulate and create a suitable environment for hibernation and rearing of young for the intended wildlife species
Full of dead organic matter, providing abundant food for detritivores and decomposers
Creates habitat for aquatic organisms
Can bring different species of bird into close contact, which does not otherwise happen. This risks spread of pathogens between species.
Benefits from a constant layer of organic material on its surface to provide continuous food for organisms that live in this habitat
Provision of nectar and pollen
Create vertical habitat on walls and fences that would otherwise not support high biodiversity
A source of supplementary food for birds
Artificial spaces that create nesting and/or overwintering spaces for flying wildlife
Full of cracks and crevices for overwintering insects
These can be used by hedgehogs as hibernating spaces
Provides cover for ground-level wildlife to move through
Has the greatest abundance of life per unit volume
Provides a permanent water source for wildlife
Ideal for covering soil to provide a food source for detritivores and decomposers
Provides food for birds, squirrels and other wildlife - often in autumn
Leaves and other parts are food for primary consumers
Grass snakes, lizards and slow worms are known to lay eggs in them because they generate warmth

State the key considerations in designing and maintaining gardens for maximum biodiversity.

Maximise the range of different habitats within the garden. This will result in a diverse mix of woody and herbaceous plants.
Linked to the above point, create a wildlife pond.
For woodland areas, ensure these are layered with canopy, understory and ground cover.
Ensure native species are included, especially those known to provide fodder for wildlife.
Aim to grow many different species, rather than many repeats of a small number of species.
Research to discover if there are local species that are threatened, and create habitat that will benefit them (if possible).
Only use single flowered plants as these are more easily accessed by pollinators.
Never use pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertiliser - garden organically.
Do not take a pin-neat approach. Allow self-seeded plants to grow. Do not cut down dead herbaceous growth until late winter, and leave it on the beds in situ.
Don't mow lawns until June, allowing wildflowers to grow. If highly used for recreation, mow but on a higher setting so more species can grow.
Aim to minimise lawn area, replacing with wildflower meadow or planted beds.
Ensure all garden material is composted within the garden to maximise food for detritivores and decomposers.
Avoid primary soil cultivation unless it's absolutely necessary, e.g. to alleviate compaction. This should only ever be done one time.
Maximise accessibility for roaming, ground-level wildlife such as hedgehogs, toads and frogs by using hedges as boundaries, or leaving gaps under fences.

What are the disadvantages of ornamental borders populated with largely non-native plants?

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What is citizen science?

How is citizen science applied to gardens?

1. What is the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch?

2. How can the outcome of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch inform horticultural decision making?

1. What is the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch?

This is a winter event where people are asked to spend one hour observing and identifying different bird species that visit their garden, local park or other public green space. Results are submitted to the RSPB and are used to help inform population trends for different species.

2. How can the outcome of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch inform horticultural decision making?

The results of this survey can identify threatened species. Those species that are threatened can be a focus for horticulturalists, who may alter their gardens to offer more suitable habitat for threatened species. Collectively this could aid in reducing or even reversing a species decline.

1. What is the Big Butterfly Count?

2. How can the outcome of the Big Butterfly Count inform horticultural decision making?

1. What is the Big Butterfly Count?

Run by Butterfly Conservation, this citizen science project involves participants spending 15 minutes observing and recording butterflies seen in their garden or public green space. Results are uploaded to the organisation and help inform population trends.

2. How can the outcome of the Big Butterfly Count inform horticultural decision making?

Species that are locally threatened can become a focus of horticultural decisions. For example, adapting garden spaces to offer greater nectar source for those species or planting threatened species' caterpillar's food plants in gardens can also help. Horticulturalists may need to create habitat to allow these plants to thrive.

Note: much of the outcomes of citizen science, such as creation of particular habitat types to benefit a threatened species, is ultimately detailed in other parts of this topic, such as 4.3 Creating Habitats. Benefits to local communities is covered in topics such as 3.1 Wellbeing and 3.2 Environment.

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What are Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs)?

How were BAPs used in the UK?

BAPs were used to help local authorities, landscape architects, horticulturalists and other relevant parties make decisions on green space management and development. BAPs help identify threatened habitats and/or species, particularly on a local level, so green spaces can be developed in ways that reverse declines. This can help increase biodiversity in the UK.

[BAPs were published from 1994 until 2010, now their work is undertaken in differing ways by each of the four UK countries]

Note: for the exams you need to know a small range of BAP priority habitats and species, and relate them to garden situation. A selection from the latest (2010) BAP is covered below.

BAP priority habitats.

The habitats below are a selection from the 2010 BAP that could be created in gardens. For each habitat, state how it could be created in a garden.

Hedgerows - Replace fences with mixed native species hedgerows - If the garden has mono-culture hedgerows (e.g. Leylandii), selectively replace some plants with native hedgerow plants. This can be undertaken over several years to reduce the negative impact of removing mature hedging plants and loss of established wildlife corridor. Eventually all/most plants will be replaced.

Ponds Wildlife ponds can be installed in gardens. They should have sloping sides with underwater 'shelves' at various levels for aquatic plants. Ponds should be planted with aquatic plants, including marginals, which provide cover for wildlife. A pebble 'beach' area should be installed for open access, which is preferred by some wildlife.

Lowland meadow - Lawns can be allowed to grow as a meadow and managed to increase wildflower diversity. For example, removing all arisings after cutting to deplete soil nutrition. Scarifying and seeding with native meadow wildflowers. - Other garden areas can be converted into meadow, such as herbaceous borders.

Traditional orchards - Plant (or retain) fruiting trees such as apples, cherries, plums, etc. so several are growing in proximity. Veteran (old) trees should be retained as they are hosts for lichen and other organisms that are associated with older trees. - Allow the orchard understory to grow as meadow.

BAP priority species.

The species below are a selection from the 2010 BAP. Plant species could be included in gardens, animal species could have habitat created to support their population.

For plants, state a garden situation in which it could be cultivated.

For animals, match to a suitable habitat(s) that could be created in a garden that support them.

Plants:

Campanula patula (spreading bellflower) Herbaceous borders, wildflower meadow on nutrient-poor soil.

Chamaemelum nobile (chamomile) Raised beds, rock gardens, drystone walls, herb gardens

Centaurea cyanus (cornflower) Herbaceous borders, wildflower meadow on nutrient-poor soil.

Pulsatilla vulgaris (pasqueflower) Rock gardens, raised beds, front-of-border, wildflower meadow on thin, poor soils

Animals:

Match each species to the garden feature and its role for the species, e.g. C-10-Y. Some features could match to more than one role, e.g. 2. (Woodland) could match to U and W.

Species:

A. Dormouse

B. Greater horseshoe bat

C. West European hedgehog

D. House sparrow

E. Song thrush

F. Grass snake

Feature:

Hedges
Woodland
Seed-producing plants
Wildlife pond
Woodland edge
Scrubland
Mature ivy
Compost heap
Old houses, churches and barns
Leafpiles
Wildflower meadow
Moth-attracting flowers

Role:

U. Food source

V. Habitat for prey species

W. Nesting space (birds)

X. Egg-laying space (not birds)

Y. Hibernating or brumation space

Z. Daytime resting space with spaces big enough to fly into

Answers A-2-V, W A-3-U A-5-V, W A-6-V, W A-10-Y B-9-Z B-12-V C-5-V, Y C-6-V,Y C-10-V, Y C-11-V D-1-U, W D-3-U D-5-U, W D-6-U, W D-7-U, W D-11-U E-1-U, V, W E-5-V, W E-6-V, W E-7-W F-4-V F-8-X, Y F-10-X, Y