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LIFE 13 BIO/UK/000428 EcoCo LIFE Forge dam: EcoCoLife monitoring Impact Report (Action D.6.)

CONTENTS

1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2

2. Background ..................................................................................................................... 2

3. Monitoring ....................................................................................................................... 4

4. Future monitoring ............................................................................................................ 7

5. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 7

6. Annex 1…………………………………………...………………………………………………8

Peacock butterfly on Buddleia

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1 Introduction Forge Dam is a brownfield site of approximately 0.25 hecatres in area, located on the former Carron Iron Works in Stenhousemuir Falkirk (Figure 1). Although in the centre of an industrial urban area, the site is adjacent to the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) Carron Dams Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) wetland site. Forge Dam has Open Mosaic Habitat with patches of bare ground, scrub and species rich grasslands. The site has a diverse plant assemblage, including Wild carrot (Daucus carota), Great mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) and Perforate St Johns Wort (Hypercicum perforatum).

Figure 1. Aerial map of Forge Dam in relation to the surrounding urban area of Stenhousemuir and Carron Dams. 2 Background The bare and sandy ground at Forge Dam is a nesting site for the Red Data Book solitary bee Andrena ruficrus and the more common and widespread Sand-pit mining bee (Andrena barbilabris). The site also supports a range of other hymenoptera such as Field digger wasps (Mellinus arvensis) and the Nationally Scarce ground beetle Amara praetermisssa. In early 2014, part of the site was destroyed by a local developer and a large area of sandy bare ground preferred by the solitary bees was disturbed and partly lost from the site. This meant that the area of available ground for the bees was significantly reduced in size. Additionally, there are problems with birch at the site which can shade out the bare ground.

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This project created a large bee bank in March 2018 to provide new habitat for the solitary bees and other warmth loving and ground nesting invertebrates. The bank was created with permission from Falkirk Council who own the land, SWT that manage the site as well as Carron Bathrooms who own access to the site. A contractor helped move material for the bank which was created with 30 tonnes of type 1 aggregate for the base of the bank and 45 tonnes of builders sand that went over the aggregate (Figure 2). Volunteers from The Conservation Volunteers helped to shape the mound and clear birch scrub from the site (Figure 3).

Figure 2. The contractor moving sand and covering the type 1 aggregate that is the base of the bank.

Figure 3. Volunteers from The Conservation Volunteers removing scrub from Forge Dam.

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Figure 4. Location of Forge Dam with the other brownfield sites and green roofs involved in this EcoCo project. 3 Monitoring A survey by Buglife was undertaken at Forge Dam in 2010/2011 and recorded plants, invertebrates and other wildlife (Table 1-4). 135 species of invertebrate were recorded (Table 2). Since this initial survey the site has continued to be monitored for invertebrates in particular for the ground nesting solitary bees in May/June each year. Since the installation of the bee bank, Forge Dam has been visited by Buglife several times during the summer of 2018 to monitor activity of invertebrates on the bank (Figure 5). During the first season, several female Sand-pit mining bees were observed burrowing into the mound (Figure 6 and 7). Bee-fly (Bombylius major), that parasitise the nests of solitary bees, have also been observed next to the bank (Figure 8). Several adult Andrena ruficrus were also observed to be actively nesting on the site.

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Figure 5. Completed bee bank at Forge Dam after several months.

Figure 6. A female Sand-pit mining bee (Andrena barbilabris) on the bee bank at Forge Dam.

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Figure 7. A female Sand-pit mining bee (Andrena barbilabris) burrowing into the bee bank at Forge Dam.

Figure 8. A Bee-fly resting in vegetation by the bee bank.

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4 Future monitoring Buglife plan to monitor this site to ensure that the bee bank is providing habitat for ground nesting solitary bees and that the Red Data Book Andrena ruficrus is still active on site. The area will be managed in collaboration with SWT, volunteers from Carron Dams volunteer group and with Falkirk Council. 5 Acknowledgements Buglife would like to thank Falkirk Council, SWT and Carron Bathrooms for their support and help through this project.

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6 Annex 1 Table 1. List of plants recorded at Forge Dam during the Buglife survey in 2010/2011.

Scientific Name Common name

Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Alchemilla vulgaris Lady’s mantle

Arenaria serpyllifolia Thyme leaved sandwort

Bellis perennis Daisy

Buddleja sp. Buddleia

Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherds purse

Centaurea nigra Common knapweed

Centaurium erythraea Common centaury

Cerastium fontanum Common mouse ear

Cirsium arvense Creeping thistle

Crepis capillaris Smooth hawkbeard

Dactylorhiza purpurella Northern marsh orchid

Echium vulgare Vipers bugloss

Euphrasia nemorosa Eyebright

Fragaria vesca Wild strawberry

Hesperis matronalis Dames violet

Hypericum perforatum St. Johns wort

Hypochaeris radicata Cats ear

Lotus corniculatus Common birds foot trefoil

Myosotis arvensis Field forget me not

Myosotis ramosissima Early forget me not

Oenothera biennis Common evening primrose

Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain

Ranunculus acris Meadow buttercup

Reseda lutea Wild mignonette

Reseda luteola Weld

Ribes sanguineum Flowering currant

Rubus fruticosus Brambles

Rubus idaeus Raspberry

Scrophularia nodosa Common figwort

Senecio jacobaea Ragwort

Silene alba White campion

Solanum dulcamara Bittersweet

Solanum nigrum Black nightshade

Taraxacum officinale Dandelion

Trifolium campestre Hop trefoil

Urtica dioica Common nettle

Verbascum thapsus Great mullein

Veronica chamaedrys Germander speedwell

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Table 2. List of invertebrates recorded at Forge Dam during the Buglife survey in 2010/2011.

Order Scientific name Common name

Coleoptera Adalia bipunctata 2-spot ladybird

Coleoptera Agriotes obscurus Click beetle

Coleoptera Amara communis Ground beetle

Coleoptera Amara eurynota Ground beetle

Coleoptera Amara praetermissa Ground beetle

Coleoptera Amara tibialis Ground beetle

Coleoptera Bradycellus sharpi Ground beetle

Coleoptera Byrrhus pilula Pill beetle

Coleoptera Calathus fuscipes Ground beetle

Coleoptera Calathus micropterus Ground beetle

Coleoptera Cantharis cryptica Soldier beetle

Coleoptera Cantharis figurata Soldier beetle

Coleoptera Cantharis livida Soldier beetle

Coleoptera Carabus nemoralis Ground beetle

Coleoptera Carabus violaceus Ground beetle

Coleoptera Chaetocnema concinna Leaf beetle

Coleoptera Chrysomela aenea Leaf beetle

Coleoptera Coccinella septempunctata 7-spot ladybird

Coleoptera Curtonotus aulicus Ground beetle

Coleoptera Cychrus caraboides Snail hunter

Coleoptera Harpalus rufipes Ground beetle

Coleoptera Nebria brevicollis Ground beetle

Coleoptera Nicrophorus vespilloides Sexton beetle

Coleoptera Ocypus olens Devils coach horse

Coleoptera Pterostichus madidus Ground beetle

Coleoptera Pterostichus melanarius Ground beetle

Coleoptera Pterostichus niger Ground beetle

Coleoptera Sphaeroderma rubidum Leaf beetle

Coleoptera Stenus clavicornis Rove beetle

Coleoptera Tachyporus hypnorum Rove beetle

Coleoptera Thanatophilus rugosus Carrion beetle

Dermaptera Forficula auricularia Common earwig

Diptera Bombylius major Bee fly

Diptera Episyrphus balteatus Marmalade hoverfly

Diptera Helius flavus Cranefly

Diptera Helophilus pendulus Hoverfly

Diptera Melanostoma mellinum Hoverfly

Diptera Nephrotoma flavescens Cranefly

Diptera Platycheirus albimanus Hoverfly

Diptera Syrphus ribesii Hoverfly

Diptera Syrphus torvus Hoverfly

Ephemeroptera Serratella ignita Mayfly

Hemiptera Agallia venosa Leafhopper

Hemiptera Anoscopus histrionicus Leafhopper

Hemiptera Anthocoris nemorum Flower bug

Hemiptera Aphrodes limicola Leafhopper

Hemiptera Aphrodes makarovi Leafhopper

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Hemiptera Blepharidopterus angulatus Black-kneed apple capsid

Hemiptera Chlamydatus pullus Plant bug

Hemiptera Cixius nervosus Lacehopper

Hemiptera Closterotomus norwegicus Potato capsid

Hemiptera Dicyphus epilobii Plant bug

Hemiptera Drymus sylvaticus Ground bug

Hemiptera Elasmostethus interstinctus Birch shieldbug

Hemiptera Eupelix cuspidata Leafhopper

Hemiptera Lopus decolor Plant bug

Hemiptera Macrosteles laevis Leafhopper

Hemiptera Megophthalmus scanicus Leafhopper

Hemiptera Miris striatus Fine streaked bugkin

Hemiptera Nabis flavomarginatus Broad damsel bug

Hemiptera Nabis limbatus Marsh damsel bug

Hemiptera Neophilaenus lineatus Lined spittlebug

Hemiptera Nysius thymi Seed bug

Hemiptera Oncopsis flavicollis Leafhopper

Hemiptera Oulema melanopus Leaf beetle

Hemiptera Pentatoma rufipes Forest bug

Hemiptera Philaenus spumarius Common froghopper

Hemiptera Pithanus maerkeli Plant bug

Hemiptera Plagiognathus arbustorum Plant bug

Hemiptera Plagiognathus chrysanthemi Plant bug

Hemiptera Psammotettix nodosus Leafhopper

Hemiptera Saldula saltatoria Common shore bug

Hemiptera Scleroracus plutonius Leafhopper

Hemiptera Stenodema calcarata Plant bug

Hemiptera Stenodema laevigata Plant bug

Hemiptera Streptanus marginatus Leafhopper

Hemiptera Stygnocoris sabulosus Seed bug

Hemiptera Trigonotylus ruficornis Plant bug

Hymenoptera Andrena barbilabris Solitary bee

Hymenoptera Andrena ruficrus Solitary bee

Hymenoptera Bombus hortorum Garden Bumblebee

Hymenoptera Bombus lapidarius Red tailed bumblebee

Hymenoptera Bombus lucorum White tailed bumblebee

Hymenoptera Bombus pascuorum Common carder bee

Hymenoptera Bombus pratorum Early bumblebee

Hymenoptera Bombus terrestris Buff tailed bumblebee

Hymenoptera Formica lemani Ant

Hymenoptera Lasius niger agg. Black garden ant

Hymenoptera Leptothorax acervorum Red ant

Hymenoptera Mellinus arvensis Field digger wasp

Hymenoptera Myrmica scabrinodis Red ant

Hymenoptera Osmia bicornis Red mason bee

Hymenoptera Tenthredo arcuata complex Sawfly

Hymenoptera Tenthredo notha Sawfly

Hymenoptera Vespula vulgaris Common wasp

Lepidoptera Aglais urticae Small Tortoiseshell

Lepidoptera Anthocharis cardamines Orange tip butterfly

Lepidoptera Aplocera plagiata Treble bar moth

Lepidoptera Inachis io Peacock butterfly

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Lepidoptera Lycaena phlaeas Small copper

Lepidoptera Pieris brassicae Large white

Lepidoptera Pieris napi Green veined white butterfly

Lepidoptera Pieris rapae Small white butterfly

Lepidoptera Polygonia c-album Comma butterfly

Lepidoptera Polyommatus icarus Common blue butterfly

Odonata Ischnura elegans Blue tailed damselfly

Odonata Sympetrum striolatum Common darter

Orthoptera Chorthippus brunneus Meadow grasshopper

Orthoptera Myrmeleotettix maculatus Mottled grasshopper

Orthoptera Omocestus viridulus Common green grasshopper

Plecoptera Nemoura cinerea Stonefly

Aranaea Anelosimus vittatus Comb-footed spider

Aranaea Clubiona reclusa Ground spider

Aranaea Dictyna arundinacea Mesh webbed spider

Aranaea Enoplognatha ovata Comb-footed spider

Aranaea Pardosa amentata Wolf spider

Aranaea Pardosa palustris Wolf spider

Aranaea Pardosa pullata Wolf spider

Aranaea Tegenaria agrestis Funnel web spider

Aranaea Tetragnatha montana Long jawed orb weaver

Aranaea Theridion impressum Comb-footed spider

Aranaea Trochosa terricola Wolf spider

Aranaea Xysticus cristatus Crab spider

Opiliones Mitopus morio Harvestmen

Opiliones Oligolophus hanseni Harvestmen

Opiliones Oligolophus tridens Harvestmen

Opiliones Paroligolophus agrestis Harvestmen

Opiliones Phalangium opilio Harvestmen

Opiliones Platybunus triangularis Harvestmen

Isopoda Philoscia muscorum Common striped woodlice

Isopoda Porcellio scaber Rough woodlice

Gastropoda Cepaea hortensis White lipped snail

Gastropoda Cepaea nemoralis Brown lipped snail

Gastropoda Oxychilus alliarius Garlic snail

Gastropoda Trochulus hispidus Hairy snail

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Table 3. List of birds recorded at Forge Dam during the Buglife survey in 2010/2011..

Scientific name Common name

Aegithalos caudatus Long tailed tit

Buteo buteo Common buzzard

Calumba palumbus Wood pigeon

Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch

Corvus corone Carrion crow

Cyanistes caeruleus Blue tit

Erithacus rubecula Robin

Motacilla alba Pied wagtail

Parus major Great tit

Phylloscopus trochilus Willow warbler

Pica pica Magpie

Streptopelia decoato Collared dove

Sylvia communis Whitethroat

Troglodytes troglodytes Wren

Turdus merula Blackbird

Turdus philomelos Song thrush

Table 4. List of mammals recorded at Forge Dam during the Buglife survey in 2010/2011..

Scientific name Common Name

Capreolus capreolus Roe deer

Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit

Table 5. List of amphibians recorded at Forge Dam during the Buglife survey in 2010/2011..

Scientific name Common Name

Bufo bufo Common toad

Rana temporia Common frog