Trunk Road Biodiversity Action Plan: page 34

Trunk Road Biodiversity Action Plan: Review for Discussion

natural heritage zone 19

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

Trunk Roads: A75 Glenluce - Gretna / A701 Whole Route / A76 Cumnock - Dumfries / M74 Jct12 - Jct.14 / M74 A701 - Gretna / A702 Biggar - Abington

Descriptive summary to be provided by SNH. Zonal prospectus currently under production.

Route biodiversity issues

The Dumfries and Galloway LBAP region has 4400 km of road, of which 3950 km is in non-built up areas and likely to have a grass verge.

The only known colony of narrow-bordered five spot burnet moth in Scotland is reportedly found on a verge of the A711.

Animal road deaths are considered an issue in the Dumfries and Galloway LBAP, and reflector lights and underpasses have been installed along certain roads in the region.

To avoid possible damage to bats and their roosts during bridge renovation work, a Countryside Ranger checks for roosts before work starts. Staff training and a biodiversity awareness raising service is available via Dumfries and Galloway Council Ranger Service.

Red squirrels are found within the Heathhall Industrial Estate. Links to adjacent suitable habitat may be possible by providing safe crossings across roads.

The LBAP comments that farmland habitats are affected by new roads and associated development, and has an objective to identify key habitats and farm features through the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG). A partnership opportunity may exist here to maintain roadside habitats in a complementary manner.

Purple moor-grass and rush pastures are target habitats in Dumfries & Galloway. The UK BAP objective is to initiate experimental attempts to re-create pasture on land adjacent or near to existing pastures. Opportunities may exist to manage road verges in target areas to be compatible with these objectives.

The LBAP contains Species Action Plans for:

Otters - with a main objective to maintain the otter population at its current healthy level. The second objective is to reduce road mortality in the region (reduce annual mortality by 50% by 2000).
Water voles - with an objective to ensure management of watercourses and wetland habitats which will maintain and enhance the population.
Red squirrels - with an objective to campaign for road signs and rope bridges at road mortality black spots.

KEY TO TIMESCALES
ST2	Short Term - Commence within 2 years
MT5	Medium Term - Commence within 5 years
LT15	Long Term - Commence within 15 years
OG	Ongoing - Cyclical action

zone 19 map

Road	Type of Action	When
A701	Deer reflectors - St. Anne's - mount reflectors on longer stakes, clean, maintain and realign periodically.	ST2
A7	Deer warning sign - south end of Big Hill, south of Selkirk - evaluate effectiveness of warning signs.	ST2
ALL	Liaise with D&G Council re. opportunities for biodiversity awareness training.	ST2/OG
ALL	Evaluate opportunities to provide overhead red squirrel road crossings at suitable locations. ST2
ALL	Ensure bridges are inspected for possible bats and bat roosts before commencing new works.	OG
ALL	Otters - contribute to Otter Working Group. Review current research on otter road mortality and produce digest of best practice. Monitor effectiveness of existing otter mitigation measures. ST2/OG
ALL	Water voles - seek to identify drainage ditches used by water voles and ensure maintenance work avoids unnecessary damage to burrows (generally within 2m of water's edge), and encourages the lush bankside vegetation they need.	ST2/OG