Note. The contribution of Mr and Mrs J. W. Ward of the Northamptonshire Moth Group in the development of this plan is gratefully acknowledged.

Compiled by The Wildlife Trust

Lead Agencies Public Sector Forestry Commission

Voluntary Sector The Wildlife Trust

1 INTRODUCTION

The Concolorous moth has a very limited distribution in Britain, but is found in a number of woodland sites in Northamptonshire. The larvae feed on Small Reed (Calamagrostis spp)., and in our woodlands appear to use Purple Small-Reed (Calamagrostis canescens), but will also use the Wood Small Reed (C. epigejos) if this is the only species present. Wood Small Reed is often considered to be a weed species in standard woodlands management, and is often removed from plantation areas as it can out-compete the young trees.

2 CURRENT STATUS

2.1 International / National Status

· Red Data Book status: rare.

· In the early 1990’s colonies were known in fifteen 10km squares. There is now evidence to suggest that this may overstate the present position.

· Recent surveys have failed to find the moth in some of its former Northamptonshire strongholds. Some of the last records from other counties well predate the decline in this county.

2.2 Local Status

In Northamptonshire it has been recorded at several woods, including Glapthorn Cow Pasture SSSI and Geddington Chase SSSI. The County Moth Recorder, J. Ward, has collated records from many of the sites where the moth has been recorded, and these show a steady decline in numbers from being locally plentiful in the early 1990’s, to few anywhere since 1996.

3 CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE

· Habitat loss

· Scrub encroachment.

· Removal of Calamagrostis spp. from plantations.

· Changing climate. The keeper at Geddington Chase, a site where there have been no records of The Concolorous moth since 1997, has observed that the wood is becoming wetter overall, but drier in the summer. This observation is confirmed by the keeper at Salcey Forest and by one of the rangers at Fineshade.

4 CURRENT ACTION

English Nature is overseeing a survey to establish the status of the moth both locally and nationally.

5. THE CONCOLOROUS MOTH 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 in local plans.	Include species protection policies in local plans and/or supplementary guidance.	Local Authorities		By 2003

	Objective Two: Ensure that forestry management practices do not destroy the habitat requirements and particularly the food plants of The Concolorous moth.	Develop specific local policies for forestry management to benefit The Concolorous moth.	Forestry Commission	Other woodland owners	By 2002
5.2	Site Safeguard and Management
	Objective Three: Ensure that habitat suitable for The Concolorous moth is maintained.	Initiate appropriate management at known sites.		Woodland owners and managers of known sites	Throughout Action Plan Period
		Maintain suitable habitat for future colonisation.	Forestry Commission	Other woodland owners	Throughout Action Plan Period
	Objective Four: Halt species decline and sustain viable populations. Maintain and enhance the current range of the species.	On sites known to support populations ensure that management allows for the retention of stands of Calamagrostis spp.	Wildlife Trust	Woodland owners and managers of known sites	By 2002
5.3	Advisory
	Objective Five: Ensure landowners are aware of the species importance and the woodland management practices required for its survival.	Publish guidance notes on the management of woodland for The Concolorous moth.	Wildlife Trust	Northants Moth Group	By 2002
	Objective Six: Provide training for woodland managers, advisors and volunteers.	Develop targeted training for woodland managers, advisors and potential surveyors.	Wildlife Trust	Northants Moth Group	By 2002
5.4	Future Monitoring and Research
	Objective Seven: Improve knowledge of this species, its distribution and numbers.	Undertake systematic survey work (adults and larvae) at all known sites to determine the current status of the moth in Northamptonshire.	Wildlife Trust	Northants Moth Group	Commence survey work in 2001
		Survey areas colonised by Calamagrostis spp especially canescens to establish the presence of the moth at additional sites.	Northants Moth Group
		Establish a research project at sites where the moth is still present to determine optimal habitat requirements and develop management guidance.	Northants Moth Group	Wildlife Trust, Forestry Commission, English Nature	Commencing in 2002
5.5	Communications and Publicity
	Objective Eight: Provide regular updates on the progress of The Concolorous moth action plan to maintain the interest of land managers and the general public.	Publish an annual progress report.	Wildlife Trust	Northants Moth Group	Throughout Action Plan Period
		Encourage participation in Northamptonshire Moth Group activities.	Northants Moth Group		Throughout Action Plan Period
5.6	Review
	Objective Nine: Review the plan to assess progress and, where necessary, update and amend.		Wildlife Trust	BAP partners	2005
	Objective Ten: Publicise the progress made in delivering this action plan in a BAP annual report.			BAP partners	Annual

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Note. The contribution of Mr and Mrs J. W. Ward of the Northamptonshire Moth Group in the development of this plan is gratefully acknowledged.

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