Lead Agencies Public Sector English Nature
Voluntary Sector The Wildlife Trust
1 INTRODUCTION
Limited to a few churchyards in the county,
this lichen is nationally scarce.
2 CURRENT
STATUS
2.1
International / National Status
The lichen (Physcia
clementei) is classified as a Nationally Scarce Species. It is found on nutrient-rich, well-lit
trunks of wayside and parkland trees; steeply sloping, basic rock faces near
the sea, on walls near the coast and inland in churchyards.
2.2 Local
Status
In Northamptonshire it is currently only
recorded at four sites. These are on ironstone headstones at Byfield, Helmdon,
Moreton Pinkney and Sulgrave churchyards, with two specimens recorded at
Moreton Pinkney and one at each of the other sites. It generally occurs on the sunnier, west faces or south edges of
gravestones. Each recorded specimen is
sterile.
3
CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE
·
The repair and maintenance of suitable wall
surfaces.
·
The inappropriate management of graveyards,
including the movement of gravestones from their original positions, thereby
altering the abiotic factors affecting the lichen, and the cleaning of
headstones
4
CURRENT ACTION
Ongoing British Lichen Society Survey of
graveyards in Northamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough.
5. PHYSCIA CLEMENTEI OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
|
|
Objective |
Action |
Lead Agency |
Partners |
TargetS |
5.1
|
Site Safeguard and Management
|
||||
|
|
Objective One: To protect existing specimens of P. clementei |
Ensure headstones where P. clementei are present are not moved, cleaned or sprayed with
chemicals |
Wildlife Trust |
English Nature, British Lichen Society |
Throughout plan period |
|
|
|
Ensure the planting of shrubs and trees
adjacent to them does not shade relevant headstones out |
Wildlife Trust |
English Nature, British Lichen Society |
Throughout plan period |
|
|
|
Examine headstones periodically to ensure
they are kept clear of invasive vegetation |
Wildlife Trust |
English Nature, British Lichen Society |
Throughout plan period |
5.2
|
Advisory
|
||||
|
|
Objective Two: To inform relevant bodies of the presence of
the species |
Inform the persons responsible for the
maintenance of the churchyard of the whereabouts of this species |
Wildlife Trust |
English Nature British Lichen Society |
By 2001 |
5.3
|
Future Monitoring and Research
|
||||
|
|
Objective Three: To establish the distribution of the species
in Northamptonshire |
Survey sites in Northamptonshire where P. clementei is likely to occur |
British Lichen Society |
English Nature Wildlife Trust |
2003 |
|
|
Objective Four: To establish a monitoring scheme |
Establish an annual continuing monitoring
scheme |
British Lichen Society |
|
By 2001 and throughout plan period |
|
|
|
Record onto a central database the locations
of P. clementei |
The Wildlife Trust |
English Nature British Lichen Society |
2003 |
5.4
|
Review
|
||||
|
|
Objective Five: Review the plan to assess progress, and where
necessary update and amend |
|
Wildlife Trust |
BAP Partners |
2005 |
|
|
Objective Six: Publicise the progress made in delivering
this Action Plan in a BAP Annual Report |
|
|
BAP Partners |
Annually |