Report Title: Scrutiny report to monitor and record compliance with the annual
Service Level/Funding Agreement
Client: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Site: Woodhouse Washlands
Report of: Richard Harris, Ecology Manager, Sheffield City Council Ecology Unit
Tel: ext 34481
Email: Richard.Harris@sheffield.gov.uk
Date: 01.12.2014
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to report on measures in place and monitor and
record compliance with the annual Service Level/Funding Agreement.
Approach
This report forms part of the approach taken to:
1. Review management plan annually and agree it. (Feb/March each year)
2. Review and agree costed work plan annually. (Feb/March)
3. 1 monitoring visit annually to determine compliance (combined office visit &
site visit – dates to be agreed)
4. Sign off at year end monitoring reports and annual report (Feb/March).
Scope
The annual review of the management plan is to make recommendations for any
minor adjustments if necessary in light of monitoring, and to take into account up-todate scientific knowledge. Full review, research, and consultation of management
plans normally take place every 5 years. The reviews and site visits will be
conducted by Sheffield City Council’s Ecology Section.
A site visit was undertaken on 24.09.14 with Kara Jackson, Reserves Officer,
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Contact details: Tel: 01484 663185 / 07788385500 Email:
kara.jackson@ywt.org.uk
Site description
This 55.2ha nature reserve comprises mainly grassland, with some hedgerows and
scrub areas along the boundaries. There are a number of ponds and wet ditches and
two marsh areas which retain water throughout the year. It is located approximately
5 miles from the centres of Sheffield and Rotherham.
Monitoring Comments
Low headage of cattle on site was in evidence as per Countryside Stewardship
Agreement. Grazing was excluded from marsh areas by presence of fencing.
Following discussions with the Reserves Officer, proposals were in development to
discourage disturbance to wading bird breeding and overwintering areas. This is in
accordance with the ecological objectives for the site. There was some damage to
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fencing from persistent vandalism. New ponds were evident installed as part of the
Sheffield Living Waters Project, a partnership project managed by Froglife and
delivered on behalf of Sheffield City Council. However two ponds were relatively dry.
A decision needs to be made on the future status of these ponds.
Amphibian surveys were carried out in 2013 and 2014 as part of the Living Waters
Project and Great Crested newts Triturus cristatus (protected species) found on site.
The results of these should be used to inform future management. This information
was passed to the Reserves Officer.
Conclusion
The site is being managed in accordance with management brief. There is evidence
of on-going involvement and care of the site by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. There are
continuing challenges in relation to unsympathetic access which may need to be
addressed through carefully targeted publicity.
Recommended actions
 Urgent repairs to fencing
 Decision reached on future maintenance and management of new ponds
 Remove New Zealand pygmyweed Crassula helmsii (invasive plant) from
ponds
 Consider Phase 1 habitat survey to identify and map habitats on site
 Habitats and species records to be shared with Sheffield Biological Records
Centre
Where these are taken forward they should be listed in the next Work Plan from
YWT 2015/16.
ENDS
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