Routine liaison is achieved with English Nature via the NNR team and the JAC. Outside of these committees/teams, management advice and approval is sought from the Conservation Officer at Grantham.

Two resident flock of Hebrideans are deployed to the following grazing plots during the year. However, an annual grazing programme needs to be set up to take account of additional grassland plots on Stewardship land.  See SF File 2110 Hebredean sheep.

Outer dunes. Hebridean sheep grazing may be required to tackle scrub regrowth and rosebay in spring, following winter clearance. Temp electric fencing.

Mere Meadow. Aftermath grazing in three-strand electric enclosure. Aug/Sept.

Mere Four Acres is botanically poor, is used as holding area/run-off grazing as required.

East Dunes. Present rabbit grazing negates sheep-grazing over much of Compt 25. Where sward becomes rank through decreased rabbit grazing or where rosebay control requires, sheep grazing will be practiced in designated short-turf zones Compts 24 and 26. Long-term consideration should be given to stockfencing large units of mixed scrub/grassland, particularly if rabbit population shows decline.

Army Swathe. Primarily for scrub and rosebay control, August.

Meads Outpost. Winter months.

West Dunes. Present rabbit grazing pressure negates annual sheep grazing requirement on South and North Plot. Grazing to be carried out on biennial regime in temp electric fencing (summer/autumn) where sward becomes rank due to decreased rabbit population.

Jackson's Marsh, Tennyson's Sands. Winter/spring regime.

Measures'/Shoveler's enclosures. Density and timing to be determined.

Daily checks are carried out by staff/key volunteer to assess health and count.  Health problems reported to L D Grooby/K Gray. Hoof maintenance should be carried out at least three times a year. Mineral block available routinely. Supplementary feeding during hard weather includes hay, a high-energy block and sheep nuts.

Project brief includes all checks/maintenance and associated temporary  fencing.

West Dunes:

* Control sea buckthorn on pill box plot.

* Control scrub on dune grassland.

* Control scrub on ride edges.

Mere Four Acres:

* Control scrub in grazing enclosure.

Meads Outpost:

* Control spread of sea buckthorn in grazing enclosure.

Measures 40 Acres:

Control encroaching sea buckthorn in rides and glades.

East Dunes:

* Control scrub on grey dune ridge - Ringing Hollow Compt 24.

* Control scrub on grey dune ridge - East Plot Compt 25.

* Control scrub on grey dune - East Dune central glades Compt 25.

Latter compt includes control of invasive privet.

Shovelers enclosure Compt 26:

* Large scale removal of scrub to restore grey dune ridge north of Mead's Outpost. Seek to employ contractors to up-root and burn scrub in 2 ha block.

Proposed winter 2004/05

Saltings Ridge Compt 14:

*Up-root and burn scrub on saltings ridge system 1.5 ha .As above, seek to employ contractors during winter months.Proposed winter 2003/04

West dunes:

* Mow and rake Barrie's plot - late July (as required).

* Mow and rake Barrie's plot and extension (Sept/Oct).

* Cut and rake Ringing Rides June/Sept (old CES).

* Cut CES rides at Aylmer June.

* Mow ride south plot June/July.

* Mow north-west ride June/July.

* Mow ride edges north-west ride Sept/Oct.

East Dunes:

* Mow Ringing Hollow Ride (section 10 butterfly transect route) June/July.

* Mill Hill to Shoveler's ride verges Sept/Oct.

* Mow rabbit exclosure Sept (1-3 years)

Measures 40 Acres:

* Cut ride centres July to control ruderals.

* Cut ride margins on biennial system Sept/Oct.

Project brief includes raking and disposal of cuttings

Instate stockfence line along west edge of Aylmer slack to compartmentalise the Measures enclosure; creating sheep only enclosure to west (compt 94).

Three enclosures to be instated to encompass the whole of the East Dune ridge, south of North Building, ie Compts 24, 25 and 26 to facilitate extensive sheep-grazing regime. Proposal to be drawn up and submitted to NNR team and EN for discussion.

Stockfencing to be screened by concealed by topography and scrub where possible.

Provisional timetable

Compt 24 Ringing Hollow:Aug 2003-Mar 2004

Compt 26 Mill Hill - North Building Aug 2004-Mar 2005

                     Fenceline to link with East edge of Meads/Shovelers     

                     enclosures

Compt 25 East Dunes Central: 2005/6

Control initiated following visual assessment. Hand-pulling in target areas carried out by probation team/school groups etc.

Strimming/brushcutting necessary where growth is dense.  Cut vegetation removed from site.Follow-up weedwiping will be used in second phase of clearance.Garlon is applied selectively via a hand- held applicator ('T' tube), May - Aug.

Pending stock availability, East dune rosebay control plots can be tackled with Hebridean sheep in temp electric fence June/July.

Priority sites for control on grey dune:

West Dunes:

* Weather enc plot.

East Dunes:

* Ringing Hollow (compt 24).

* East Dunes frontage (compt 24).

* Sleeper Track plot (compt 25).

* Privet plot (compt 25).

* East Plot (compt 25).

* Mill Hill Firebreak north (compt 26).

* Mill Hill - North Building (compt 26).

Priority sites for control on yellow dune:

Outer Ridge dunes (compartments 12, 13 & 14).

Freshwater marsh

* Control creeping thistle by summer topping with tractor-mounted bush-hog.

* Control hogweed on Freshwater Marsh and Mere banks by manual cutting - May/June.

* Dock and hogweed control on Mere Meadow June/July by manual cutting/pulling.

Mere Four Acres

* Control nettle/ragwort in Mere Four Acres. Tractor-mounted bush- hog may be used to top problematic species following grazing or weedwipe thistle/nettle patches following spring grazing.

Fenland Lagoon

* Control creeping thistle on lagoon banks.

East Dunes

* Control thistle etc in scrub clearance areas.

Shoveler's Enclosure

* Control of weed sp following scrub clearance.

West Dunes

* Control creeping thistle/hogweed etc on Barrie's Plot - manual

Jackson's Marsh

* Creeping thistle and ragwort hand-pulled, spudded/'lazy dog' root remover, basal rosettes sprayed with Barrier H on meadow; 'Dunes' weedwiped by contractor.

Saltings Ridges

* Control of weed sp following scrub clearance.

Continue removal programme for the following:

* Daffodils on East Dunes.

* Lesser Periwinkle on West Dunes.

* Snowberry West Dunes/North Car Park edge.

* Parrot's Feather in plantation pond

Investigate any required action for Clematis

Trial spring beauty control.

Azola is extensive in the Cowbank drain, any colonisation into Croftmarsh dykes will need to be controlled.

Undertaken by authorised permit holder. Shooting at night with 12- bore or .22 rifle. Close communication with site manager required. LWT permits and conditions in file 2080.

Rabbit exclosure - temporary in army swathe 30x20 m exclosure May- July.

Rabbit exclosure - permanent for conservation on East Plot (compt 1/25/C).

Rabbit exclosure - East Dunes Central (compt 1/25) Managed by autumn cutting - cuttings removed.

Rabbit exclosures - educational. Mill Pond Meadow (compt 1/23/A).

Aim to eradicate rabbits from Freshwater Marsh, Jackson's Marsh and Plantation. Reduce population where visual assessment deems over- extensive uniformity in sward on grey dune/dune slack or where extent of bare ground exceeds attribute limit.

Rabbit fencing maintained on Freshwater Marsh, Jackson's Marsh, Plantation and Golf Course boundary.

Stockfencing to be instated along the East bank and Aylmer section of Measures by Willie Baumber. Gated access to be provided into Mere Four Acres and Shoveler’s enclosure.

Provide permanemnt cattle drinking facility in Measures 40 Acres via mains fed trough. Piped water fed from trough at M4A/FWM junction or direct from Aylmer stop-tap. Trenching for pipeline will require pdo consent from EN.

Photographs have been obtained in 2000 from Environment Agency with particular regard to the beach nourishment project. Seek update at least once during plan period to allow changing geomorphological patterns to be followed and establish position on net accretion or erosion of coastal habitats.

Aerial photographs are necessary to allow changes to physical extent of features such as dune grassland/scrub community to be assessed. Accurate measurements for intertidal flats will pend the timing of the survey in relation to the time and state of tide.

Survey change in patterns of saltmarsh pan and creek development.

Mud/sand composition. Composition of silts and sands in intertidal zone, will influence colonisation by varied invertebrate communities. In turn, this will determine the value of the feeding grounds for various species of wader.

Substrate survey needs to establish the baseline extent of the resource and proportions of the varied sediment type eg sand and gravels, muddy sand and mud. Additionally, EN monitoring through the SAC monitoring protocols may provide information concerning sediment organic content, penetrability and depth/extent of oxidation layer.

Quality of shingle. Coarse grade shingle is selected for nesting site by little tern and ringed plover. As the sand content increases, the likelihood of colonisation by vegetation increases and suitability of nesting habitat is reduced. Survey work is required to document optimum shingle grade for nesting little terns.

The Trust needs to be kept informed of ongoing survey work carried out by EA contractors, for the beach nourishment scheme. Particle size analysis, calcium carbonate content and benthic communities are of particular importance for the full range of coastal habitats.

Collect information concerning natural sediment supply, particularly shingle, which is excluded from the nourishment scheme.

Ammophila dunes. Survey extent of open sand as constituent of Ammophila dune feature.

Fixed dune with herbaceous vegetation. Survey extent of bare sand as constituent of fixed dune feature.

Follow EN guidelines for community/feature assessment as defined in favourable condition tables for respective feature.

Follow EN guidelines for community/feature assessment as defined in favourable condition tables for respective feature.

Counts carried out monthly through a set transect. Route runs along new saltmarsh/storm ridge, east dunes, ringing hollow, meads outpost, mill pond meadow and west dunes. Counts include numbers of young rabbits and those showing signs of myxomatosis.  See file 1351.

Visual assessment needs to be carried out on East dune slack, Freshwater Marsh and outer dunes in addition to the transect.

Assessment for grazing:

Sward assessment to establish annual grazing regime on Freshwater Marsh, dune slack and grey dune.

Assess appropriate grazing regimes for scrub/grassland in Measures' and Shoveler's enclosures.

Visual assessment of rabbit-grazing impact to be carried out (summer) annually to initiate rabbit control.

Project brief includes sward surveys during grazing to check on attribute targets.

Photographic records taken of species/habitats/management/unplanned events etc. Slide film for collection and digital photos stored on CD and Gib2 computer at SF

Survey vegetation recovery following events eg dune fire.

Orchid counts:

Barrie's Plot, July RBW

Army Swathe, July

Freshwater Marsh, approx counts in July.

Survey for sea wormwood (foodplant of scarce pug) Compt 21.Establish appropriate monitoring programme.

Annual transect survey was carried out by Tim Smith/Clare Weaver on Freshwater Marsh 1992-99. SF file 1050 has detailed information on vegetation changes in response to a variable water table.

Establish baseline for enteromorpha coverage on mudflats.

Record all byelaw infringements in unsavoury events log at Sykes Farm.

* Intertidal mud and sand flats: Bait-digging, angling and horse riders, dogs on beach during April-Sept. Any disturbance incidents to feeding waders and wildfowl.

* Unvegetated shingle ridges: Trials bikes, ATVs and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Beach ferry activity. Egg collectors and unauthorised entry into shorebird sanctuary. Any disturbance incidents to wader roosts. Marine traffic eg speedboats and jet-skis may also cause considerable disturbance to roosting waders.

* Shifting dunes with Ammophila: naturist activity, fires etc.

* Atlantic salt-meadows: Samphire-gathering, trials bikes, mountain bikes, ATV's and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Any disturbance to feeding or roosting waders/wildfowl. Monitor yacht club activities/impact along saltmarsh and river bank and extent of erosion on New Saltmarsh track.

* Grey dunes and scrub: flower picking, fires etc.

Particular note should also be kept pertaining to unplanned events.

Record all byelaw infringements in unsavoury events log at Sykes Farm.

* Intertidal mud and sand flats: Bait-digging, angling and horse riders, dogs on beach during April-Sept. Any disturbance incidents to feeding waders and wildfowl.

* Unvegetated shingle ridges: Trials bikes, ATVs and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Beach ferry activity. Egg collectors and unauthorised entry into shorebird sanctuary. Any disturbance incidents to wader roosts. Marine traffic eg speedboats and jet-skis may also cause considerable disturbance to roosting waders.

* Shifting dunes with Ammophila: naturist activity, fires etc.

* Atlantic salt-meadows: Samphire-gathering, trials bikes, mountain bikes, ATV's and 4-wheel drive vehicles. Any disturbance to feeding or roosting waders/wildfowl. Monitor yacht club activities/impact along saltmarsh and river bank and extent of erosion on New Saltmarsh track.

* Grey dunes and scrub: flower picking, fires etc.

Particular note should also be kept pertaining to unplanned events.

Record presence and location of any non-native plants. Draw up a methodology of eradication or acceptance depending on the species concerned.

Survey extent of sycamore invasion into scrub blocks and grey dune.

Azola is widespread in Cowbank drain.

Encourage research into value of rosebay willowherb to dune invertebrate fauna.

Assess management requirements for the following:

* Creeping thistle on Freshwater Marsh.

* Creeping thistle on Fenland Lagoon banks

* Dock on Mere Meadow.

* Nettle/ragwort on Mere Four Acres.

* Ragwort on grey dune.

* Rosebay on grey dunes/outer dunes/dune slack.

Visual assessment by experienced observer will initiate specific control measures.

Winter ragwort assessment is required, prior to control of basal rosettes with Barrier H.

Employ Jane Ostler to survey lichens.

Update reserve list, produce article in annual report.

Reinstate lichen 'trail' at Field Station for educational use

Survey for Opegrapha demutata at Sykes Farm.

Piles of cut vegetation left at the following sites during Aug following mowing operations, to attract marsh moth larvae. Piles surveyed in late Aug/Sept and numbers of larvae recorded. Advice from Gerry Haggett or Paul Waring.

* Barrie's Plot.

* Field Station lawn.

* Ringing Hollow.

* Mere Meadow.

Encourage wider surveying into Measures', upto and including Seacroft Golf course.

See SF file 1370

Carry out butterfly transect. Instructions and recording sheets in Sykes' files 1210-1260. Records entered onto Transect Walker database.

Additional records eg emergence dates recorded on field sheets.

Target specific regionally important species ie brown Argus and green hairstreak.

Collate casual natural history records on field sheets. Input botanical and invertebrate data on recorder system. Secretary.

Seek to input archive natural history records.

Submit annual records to relevant recorders, LNU, LBC etc.

Encourage further work on specialist groups, with particular regard to the influences of rabbit-grazing on dune fauna and value of sea buckthorn scrub at various growth stages.

Dr Archer for hymenoptera.

Arachnid recording following training with Annette Binding.

Continue colonisation study of aquatic invertebrates on Stewardship land (Allan and Annette Binding).

Count singing males in spring, peak adult population, spawn strings, emerging toadlets.

Casual nocturnal survey for natterjack across grey dune and saltmarsh to establish optimum foraging sites.

Assess sward condition for natterjacks.

Specific surveys carried out for all species listed in Sykes file 1380, with written details on status changes, habitat requirement, specific management etc. Annual submission of report to LWT BAP Team.

Visual assessment to determine acceptable limits of scrub coverage in yellow dune, dune slack and grey dunes. Project brief includes ongoing assessment of scrub management projects.

Mud/sand composition. Composition of silts and sands in intertidal zone, will influence colonisation by varied invertebrate communities. In turn, this will determine the value of the feeding grounds for various species of wader.

Substrate survey needs to establish the baseline extent of the resource and proportions of the varied sediment type eg sand and gravels, muddy sand and mud. Additionally, EN monitoring through the SAC monitoring protocols may provide information concerning sediment organic content, penetrability and depth/extent of oxidation layer.

Quality of shingle. Coarse grade shingle is selected for nesting site by little tern and ringed plover. As the sand content increases, the likelihood of colonisation by vegetation increases and suitability of nesting habitat is reduced. Survey work is required to document optimum shingle grade for nesting little terns.

The Trust needs to be kept informed of ongoing survey work carried out by EA contractors, for the beach nourishment scheme. Particle size analysis, calcium carbonate content and benthic communities are of particular importance for the full range of coastal habitats.

Collect information concerning natural sediment supply, particularly shingle, which is excluded from the nourishment scheme.

Ammophila dunes. Survey extent of open sand as constituent of Ammophila dune feature.

Fixed dune with herbaceous vegetation. Survey extent of bare sand as constituent of fixed dune feature.