Shortlist of Priority Species and Habitats

Priority Habitats

Ancient and/or Species-rich Hedgerows (Download Action plan)
Important primary habitat for 47 UK priority species including 13 globally threatened or rapidly declining species. This level of association with species of conservation concern is higher than that of most other key habitats. They are especially important for butterflies and moths, farmland birds, bats and dormice, and a range of wildflowers, ferns and sedges. In the Bath & North East Somerset area, species-rich hedgerows are often associated with Bath asparagus and other species that have been identified as a Local Priority Species. Hedgerows may also act as wildlife corridors (eg for bats, reptiles and amphibians) enabling dispersal and movement.

Broadleaf WoodlandsIncludes all broadleaved and yew stands and mixed broadleaved and coniferous stands which have more than 20% of the cover made up of broadleaved and yew trees. Also includes patches of scrub of above 0.25ha which form a continuous canopy. Areas of recently felled broadleaved woodland are also included in this type, along with other integral features of woodland such as glades and rides.

Post-industrial Sites (Download Action plan)
These sites were formerly used for industrial activity but have been reclaimed. This category includes disused railway lines and associated land, coal spoil tips (known locally as 'batches'), quarries, underground stone mines and above-ground stone-workings, disused canals, and areas previously occupied by buildings. Some sites were only partly developed, with the remaining land being of high nature conservation value.

Species-rich Arable Farmland
This type includes arable cropland (including perennial, woody crops, and intensively managed orchards), commercial horticultural land (such as nurseries, vegetable plots and flower beds), freshly-ploughed land, annual leys, rotational set aside and fallow.

Species-rich Grassland (Download Action plan)
'Species-rich grassland' is a broad term used for grassland habitats of high nature conservation interest, which have not been subject to agricultural improvement or intensive management. The term encompasses three UK priority habitat types which occur in Bath & North East Somerset – lowland meadows, commonly called neutral grasslands; lowland calcareous grasslands, commonly called calcareous grasslands, and lowland dry acid grassland, commonly called acid grasslands.