| Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside
Biodiversity Action Plan - Farmland - Stone Dykes |
|
 |
ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
The majority of dykes are left unmanaged and any reconstruction of dykes is normally
carried out with grant aid from an agri-environment scheme. A large amount of
dyke restoration has been carried out as part of the Breadalbane
Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme.
CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE
|
Fences have, in most cases, replaced
dykes as effective stock-proof barriers.
Farm and estate sizes have grown with livestock utilising wider tracts of hill
ground.
There has been a decline in the number of people with the necessary skills
required for dyke restoration work.
Cost and time requirements mean dyke restoration is no longer viable without
grant aid.
Removal of dyke material for other uses and sale to garden centres.
|
|
MAIN THREATS
TO KEY SPECIES
| Wheatear |
Loss of nest sites |
| UK Importance of Tayside
population: |
small |
| Spleenwort |
Removal of habitat
Pollution
Climate change |
| UK Importance of Tayside population: |
small |
|
OPPORTUNITIES
AND CURRENT ACTION
Agri-Environment Schemes
Any farm or estate currently entered
into an agri-environment scheme (CPS, RSS or ESA) has the dykes
on the holding identified in the conservation audit. These dykes
are protected under the conditions of the scheme and cannot be
removed. Grants are available under the current agri-environment
scheme to fund dyke restoration work.
Advice
FWAG and SAC employ advisers who can provide farmers with advice on grants available
for dyke restoration. Some of this advice is available free of charge to the
farmer. |
Case
Study
Dry Stone Walling Association
The DSWA is a charitable organisation
committed to promote and preserve the art of dry stone walling
throughout the UK. The Association has 20 branches nationally,
of which five cover Scotland. The Central Scotland Group
takes in part of Tayside and consists of 60 members, including
both professional and amateur wall builders. The group’s
main remit is to train new members in the art of dry stone
walling, whilst more advanced
classes are held for old hands at which members can learn
the art of building on steep slopes and that of artistic
dry stone walling.
The organisation is involved in local community and conservation
projects and works closely with the National Trust for
Scotland and Scottish National Heritage. Recent work includes
mending walls at Barrie’s Birthplace in Kirriemuir,
making raised flowerbeds in Blairgowrie and constructing
a conservation enclosure at Blair Atholl. |
|
OBJECTIVES AND
TARGETS
Objectives |
Targets |
1 |
Prevent further decline in the
length and quality of dykes in Tayside. |
No decline in length and quality
of dykes after 2010. |
2 |
Identify the true extent and quality of
dykes in Tayside. |
Identify by 2005. |
3 |
Promote the importance of dykes in terms
of biodiversity, shelter and stockproofing. |
|
4 |
Ensure dykes are protected from further
destruction and removal. |
Prevent further removal and destruction
of dykes by 2010. |
5 |
Encourage uptake of agri-environment schemes
to ensure the restoration of dykes. |
Ensure that 50% of farms with dykes in Tayside
are entered into an agri-environment scheme using the dyke
restoration grant by 2010. |
|
Stakeholders
| Landowners,
farmers, land managers and advisors, DSWA, government bodies,
conservation volunteer groups, general public. |
|
|
