Critical assessment of a Habitat Management Plan

Module: 7LFS1037 – Ecology and Conservation
Evaluation of Habitat Plan
Student ID number: 15056988

Evaluation of Habitat Plan
Conserving biodiversity plays a significant role in ensuring that natural reserves are maintained. Effective management plans are essential for the conservation. Trooper’s hill management plan has been revised since 1992. The revision is regularly conducted to ensure that it is updated and regarding the latest management plans. Legal protection of the facility safeguards its natural habitat and enhances natural condition in the area. The latest plans have been established to ensure that the green flag template is maintained and the management plan is regularly reviewed.
Site Features
The Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve site is located at grid reference ST628732. It covers an area of 8.4 Ha (Parks & Estates, 2011). The area faces south and west of Bristol city; these provide it with a spectacular view hence attractive people across Bristol and other cities. It contains protected species that are identified based on its identification as a site of special scientific interest (SSI).
The habitat is majorly covered by grassland and woodland as shown in the maps. The woodland characterized by flora, shrubs trees, and vegetation while the grassland has distinct vegetation with different species (Parks & Estates, 2011). The location plan is provided to allow easy access to the park, and it has five pedestrians gate and two gates for the vehicles.

It is mined of goal and clay. At the northeast of the boundary there is a farm allotment site which is managed by the Bristol East allotment association.
Background Information
The history of the site is dated back to 17th century, and it was formally known as Harris hill. The map dated back in 1610 shows that the Trooper’s hill was known as Harris hills land (Parks & Estates, 2011). The site played a crucial role as a hideout during the civil war. Furthermore, the records of the church in Bristol are traced in the site. It, therefore, outlines the struggles of Baptist against persecution. The 18th century marked different mining activities in the region. Copper smelting and copper mining were the primary forms of economic activities that were conducted at the site (Parks & Estates, 2011). The late 19th century was marked tar work, and chemical work which led to the expansion of Bristol4msince the minerals attracted different investors and miners that explored opportunities for mining
(Squires, 2016).
The 20th century marked significant discoveries that enhanced the appeal of the current site. James Walter White identified flora (Parks & Estates, 2011). He discovered that the soils could support vegetation since the trees in the areas had been affected by the smoke fumes from the mining and the chemical work (Philpott, 2013). What followed was the closure of the fireclay mines to enhance the growth of vegetation and improve different forms of flora at the site. The hill was then auctioned, and Bristol city council bought and made it a public space. Heritage values were identified in the area; ecological changes were noted through increased vegetation and reduced human activities (Morgan et al., 2015).
Management Plan for Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve
The purpose of the plan is outlined to inform the community and stakeholders on the plans of the park. Explaining different strategic plans to the community enhance cooperation when major changes are made to the public (Parks & Estates, 2011). Furthermore, Bristol city council could set management priorities based on the outlined plan. Therefore, the reasons for producing the management plan would not only serve as a guide toward maintaining the park but also influence the state council on the effective plans on how to manage the park. The plan-outline is relevant considering that they are often reviewed annually.
The process used to outline the management plan is based on the annual monitoring. It regularly accesses the ecological changes over a specified period. The changes ensure that biodiversity is monitored and strategic plans are implemented to address the crisis that could occur due to environmental changes (Stoutjesdijk & Barkman, 2014).
Trooper hill management plan explains activities that are regularly conducted to conserve the park. The process of establishing the plan has been designed to cover the period between 1992 and 2012 (Parks & Estates, 2011). The plans are established to ensure that optimum conditions for flora and wildlife are provided, and the place remains attractive for the public. The plan covers the land management policies. It seeks to address the sustainability measured and adhere to the Environmental Management Audit Schemes Management (EMAS).
Delivery policies have been described as part of the management plans which often ensures that the park serves as conservation for flora, fauna, and wildlife (Parks & Estates, 2011). It acts as a site information provision as far as enjoyment of space is concerned. The plan is regularly reviewed after 5years.
The recommended features that should be included in the plan should be organized based on the management of the site and its operations (Parks & Estates, 2011). Trooper’s hill reserve has outlined its plans based on natural green space, land management policies and delivery policies. The plans ensure that maintenance of ecological conditions of the reserve

History of Management Plant
The history of the site management is dated back to 17th century when it was formally known as Harris hill. The map dated back in 1610 shows that the Trooper’s hill was known as Harris hills land (Parks & Estates, 2011). The site played a crucial role as a hideout during the civil war. Furthermore, the records of the church in Bristol are traced in the site. It, therefore, outlines the struggles of Baptist against persecution.
The 18th century marked different mining activities in the region. Copper smelting and copper mining were the primary forms of economic activities that were conducted at the site (Parks & Estates, 2011). The late 19th century was marked tar work and chemical work which led to the expansion of Bristol since the minerals attracted different investors and miners that explored opportunities of mining (Squires, 2016).
The 20th century marked significant discoveries that enhanced the appeal of the current site. James Walter White identified flora (Parks & Estates, 2011). He discovered that the soils could support vegetation since the trees in the areas had been affected by the smoke fumes from the mining and the chemical work (Philpott, 2013). What followed was the closure of the fireclay mines to enhance the growth of vegetation and improve different forms of flora at the site. The hill was then auctioned, and Bristol city council bought and made it a public space. Heritage values were identified in the area; ecological changes were noted through increased vegetation and reduced human activities (Morgan, Et al., 2015).
Description and Importance of Species and Habitats
The heritage is divided into flower meadow, acid grasslands, shrubs, and trees. Each of these heritages has its management to ensure that it is protected and maintained. The species involve different groups of flora and fauna. For instance, the flora species make up the extensive vegetation on acidic grassland and the hill. Mosses, Cladonia lichens, and black knapweed have been identified to reduce erosion and dominate the hill significantly (Parks & Estates, 2011). Fungi and lichens have been noted in reserve. Flora plays a crucial role in balancing the ecosystem hence enhanced coexistence of different species of flora (McPhearson & Tidball, 2013).
Fauna has been identified based on the casual records. Among the recorded vertebrates include lizards, badger, and slow-worm. The invertebrate surveys conducted by Bristol city council showed that 137 species were identified in the year 2000. Conservation, therefore, plays an essential role in the sustainability of fauna (Miller, 2013). Endangered species were also identified hence categorized differently from other species. Mining bees in the hill were found to be endangered due to mining activities that affected their habitats.
Grassland butterflies and birds were identified as the dominant vertebrates. The grassland part covers most of the area. Most of the species found depend on the maintenance and conservation activities conducted at the grassland. The scrub areas support the existence of the birds in the hills. Trees are also protected to enhance wildlife scenes in the area. The management is conducted to ensure that shrubs do not develop into woodlands (McDonald, 2015).
Cultural heritage is observed in the hills. Such activities include community events such as music, family gatherings, and picnics (Maloy & Atlas, 2014). Different educational activities are also conducted in the area. For example, open classroom lessons on species and vegetation, informal learning and social history are done at troopers hills.
Current management
The parks ground maintenance manager is responsible for quality maintenance of the city park. The manager also takes in the advice from ecological officers hence making the facility as one of the most important wildlife sites in Bristol (Parks & Estates, 2011). Contractors are regularly employed to conduct maintenance on specialized areas such as the fences and access points to the park. The area team leader often monitors and reports on the work of the contractors. The leaders ensure that the contractors deliver quality standards (Kumar, 2009).
The resources of the park are contributed by different agencies within the Bristol city council (Jeffords & Post, 2014). Therefore, the support from archaeology and planning is provided through the council officers. Review and resource planning is conducted by the city council (Wise, 2016).
Management Objectives and Strategies
A five-year work program is based on external influences from the site users and availability of finance (Parks & Estates, 2011). Furthermore, identification of both protected and unprotected species ensures that effective conservation procedures are applied in the habitat (Keiter, 2013). The work guidelines provide an effective plan for maintenance of roads reserves and entrances which provide directions to the Troopers hill (Jacoby, 2014).
The conservation plan focuses on addressing the areas with both protected and unprotected species. Once the unprotected species are identified, the management would be in a better position to account for various strategic plans to enhance survival rates of the rarae species (Parks & Estates, 2011).
Monitoring is conducted based on areas that require being surveyed. For instance, monthly, annual, bi-annual and 5-year monitoring is often conducted to review different activities on site (Cumbler, 2014). The tracking determines different outcomes of the plans put in place to safeguard the species; furthermore it allows financial planning on enhancing facilities that protect the habitats rare species. The monitoring conducted after five years aim to access the satisfaction of the site users thus providing a room for improvement of maintenance activities of the park (Ashby, 2012).
Summary
The management plan of Troopers Nature Reserve plays a crucial role in ensuring that the conservation is monitored. The reserve has outlined plans that enhance maintenance of the park and ensures that it provides an adequate environment for the survival of vegetation, shrubs flora and the existing fauna. Furthermore, the management plan has ensured that the park has adequate entry points for access by the community.

Appendix
Map of Troopers Hill local nature Reserve

Trooper’s Hill Grasslands

Image of Part of Troopers Hill

References
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Jacoby, K. (2014). Crimes Against Nature : Squatters, Poachers, Thieves, and the Hidden History of American Conservation. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Jeffords, M. R., & Post, S. L. (2014). Exploring Nature in Illinois : A Field Guide to the Prairie State. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
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Morgan, J. W., Marshall, A. G., Williams, N. G., & Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, (. (Australia). (2015). Land of Sweeping Plains : Managing and Restoring the Native Grasslands of South-eastern Australia. Clayton, Vic: CSIRO PUBLISHING.
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Philpott, W. (2013). Vacationland : Tourism and Environment in the Colorado High Country. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Squires, V. R. (2016). Ecological Restoration : Global Challenges, Social Aspects, and Environmental Benefits. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
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Wise, M. D. (2016). Producing Predators : Wolves, Work, and Conquest in the Northern Rockies. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.