Page 40 - Discovery Guide

40
www.forestof bowland.com
Champion Species
14 Champion Species are at the heart of the Nature Recovery Plan. Most are rare or threatened and of conservation concern. These charismatic species provide inspiration for people to care for nature and as indicator species, they can show that an ecosystem or habitat is healthy.
Curlew
The Forest of Bowland National Landscape is critically important for curlews and maintaining curlew populations remains a high priority for the National Landscape Partnership. In 2023, there were 114 nesting pairs in the Forest of Bowland with the population appearing to remain relatively stable.
Hen harrier
The National Landscape is one of the most important areas
in England for breeding hen harriers. In 2023 around 22% of the breeding population nested in the area. For the population to thrive, more of the Bowland Fells need to provide suitable habitat and incidences of persecution must cease in the wider countryside.
Black grouse
Black grouse were once widespread in the Forest of Bowland, connected with a larger population in the Yorkshire Dales, but by the mid-1990s they were considered locally extinct. In 2019, the Bowland Fells were identified as an area to promote expansion of black grouse through the restoration of a mosaic of habitats to support species translocation.
Swift
Swifts are summer visitors
to the National Landscape and can be seen feeding over fields and rivers, displaying their scythe-like wings and short, forked tail. Swifts like to live in old buildings, squeezing through small gaps to nest
in roofs. As old buildings are renovated swift nest sites
are lost.
Pied flycatcher
Though nationally scarce, the pied flycatcher can be found in Bowland’s ancient and Atlantic oak woodlands. Increased connectivity between Atlantic oak woodlands and other mature woodlands is needed to support population growth.
Juniper
Juniper is a native moorland coniferous shrub. In Bowland it is restricted to just a few sites in the northern fells
of the National Landscape and is in decline. Grazing management could help support regeneration along with new planting.