Compiled by the Wildlife Trust

Lead Agencies Public Sector English Nature

Voluntary Sector The Wildlife Trust

1 INTRODUCTION

One of Britain’s rarest native trees, the Black Poplar can grow up to one hundred feet tall and appears in many of Constable’s paintings, including the Hay Wain.

2 CURRENT STATUS

2.1 International / National Status

The British population of Black Poplars is widespread, covering the southern part of the mainland, but numbers are low. An estimate in 1982 put the national number between 2,000 and 3,000. In particular, it is very rare in lowland England and most of these trees are coming to the end of their lives.

2.2 Local Status

The first certain record of a Black Poplar in Northamptonshire was in 1886 by George C. Druce. In 1930 he described seven locations where trees were present. More recently, Black Poplars have been recorded at five sites. However the total number present is no more than 12 trees and female trees occurred at less than three sites in 1996. In addition to this, the majority are old specimens. Without active conservation the Black Poplar will soon become extinct in the county.

3 CURENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE

· Drainage of farmland and loss of wetland habitats. The Black Poplar has slowly adapted over time to human impacts on the British countryside. However it is still remains a tree of wetland regions, and land drainage has reduced this habitat.

· Low genetic variation. Most of the individuals remaining in the country have been propagated largely as cuttings from around 600 individuals.

· Lack of female trees. The individuals selected for propagation were primarily male. The reason for this was merely for aesthetic purposes.

· Male and female trees need to be in close proximity to enable pollination to take place. Therefore, the planting of solely male trees in areas has restricted their potential to propogate.

· Hybridisation. A number of poplar species have been introduced in to Britain since the 1700’s. Two American species in particular Populus deltoids and Populus angulata, cross-pollinate with the native Black Poplar, creating hybrid stock.

4 CURRENT ACTION

No current action.

5. BLACK POPLAR OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS

	Objective	Action	Lead Agency	Partners	TargetS
5.1	Policy and Legislation
	Objective One: Ensure that BAP species are given an appropriate level of protection	Include species protection policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance	Local Authorities		By 2003
		Ensure that all native Black Poplars in the county are protected by Tree Preservation Orders	Local Authorities	Wildlife Trust, County Flora Group	By 2002
5.2	Site Safeguard and Management
	Objective Two: Ensure land in the vicinity of Black Poplars is managed appropriately	Where necessary, remove non-native Poplars in areas where they are in close proximity to the native sub-species. This action should be limited to only those that pose a threat through hybridisation	Local Authorities	Wildlife Trust, Trees and Woodlands Action Plan Group	By 2010
		Advise landowners on the appropriate management of land in the vicinity of existing trees	Local Authorities	Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group	By 2002
	Objective Three: Manage existing native Black Poplars appropriately	Undertake tree surgery to improve the health of existing trees, where necessary	Wildlife Trust	Local Authorities Landowners	By 2005
	Objective Four: Assess the feasibility of a Black Poplar introduction scheme in suitable areas	Identify suitable sites for the introduction of Black Poplars	Wildlife Trust	Trees and Woodlands Action Plan Group	Define 10 sites by 2005
		Plant Black Poplars in key areas in a way suitable for easy pollination. This should include the planting of female trees in those areas where only males are present	County Council	Local Authorities, Forestry Commission, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Farmers, Landowners	Establish 10 new sites by 2010
5.3	Advisory
	Objective Five: Encourage landowners to preserve Black Poplars on their land	Provide comprehensive management advice	Wildlife Trust	English Nature, Wildlife Trust and Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Local Authorities	Produce guidance notes by 2003
5.4	Future Monitoring and Research
	Objective Six: Locate and record sites where Black Poplar is present in Northamptonshire, and establish a long-term monitoring scheme	Locate existing Black Poplars in Northamptonshire, noting their current condition and sex	County Flora Group	Wildlife Trust	By 2002
		Develop a long-term monitoring programme to assess the progress of the Black Poplar in Northamptonshire at existing and introduction sites	Wildlife Trust		By 2002
		Compile a database of landowners who either have Black Poplars on their sites, and/or are actively managing their land in a beneficial manner	Wildlife Trust	Local Authorities Wildlife Trust Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Environment Agency	2005
5.5	Communications and Publicity
	Objective Seven: Provide the public with information on the ecology of the Black Poplar and encourage their involvement monitoring of trees	Use the Black Poplar as an example of how human use of land has an impact upon biodiversity	Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group	Wildlife Trust	By 2003
		Provide opportunities to improve the public’s (particularly Tree Wardens) identification skills on Black Poplar	County Council	English Nature, Local Authorities and Wildlife Trust	By 2002
5.6	Review
	Objective Eight: Review the plan to assess progress, and where necessary update and amend			BAP Partners	2005
	Objective Nine: Publicise the progress made in delivering this Action Plan in a BAP Annual Report			BAP Partners	Annual

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Compiled by the Wildlife Trust

5.1

Policy and Legislation

5.2

Site Safeguard and Management

5.3

Advisory

5.4

Future Monitoring and Research

5.5

Communications and Publicity

5.6

Review