OR/17/020 Recommendations

Farr, G, and Graham, J. 2017. Survey, characterisation and condition assessment of Palustriella dominated springs 'H7220 Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)' in Gloucestershire, England. British Geological Survey Internal Report, OR/17/020.

• This study has highlighted the abundance of H7220 habitat in Gloucestershire, and it is likely (due to high levels of saturated calcium carbonate in spring waters generally and topography) that there is much more of this feature to locate. Identification of the true abundance of this habitat in Gloucestershire could be undertaken by comparing detailed stream and spring maps with geological formations that are known to produce tufa forming springs. This could greatly improve the known coverage for this Annex 1 habitat in England and make it easier to secure this Annex 1 habitat.
• Consider adding H7720 as a notified feature for existing SSSIs where it is not listed and notifying H7220 sites (currently without statutory protection) as County Wildlife sites.
• Several sites have the potential to be considered for restoration of the H7220 habitat including Woodchester Park and Workmans Wood.
• Consider selective removal of conifers from H77720 sites within conifer plantations where shading is highlighted as a problem (i.e. Dowdeswell and Woodchester Park site 3).
• Invertebrate specialists both national and local (Gloucestershire Invertebrate Group GIG) should be encouraged to look specifically at the H7220 habitat.