1. Introduction

The following management prescriptions are designed to enhance the ecological value of the area around Doncaster Prison, maintained by Premier Prison Services Ltd, over the next 10 years. The N Power/Yorkshire Electricity and National Transcommunication land have not been considered within the scope of this report. Much of the land is managed by flood defence or navigation authorities, which greatly reduces the options available. Disturbance from footpaths and fishing interests is another consideration. There is also a need to maintain short sward grass around the perimeter wall for security patrols and a desire to maintain a tidy attractive entrance for visitors.

Reliance has been placed on descriptions of habitats and species found on the site produced by ECUS in August 2000. Contact was also made with Colin Howes at Doncaster Museum the local biological records centre.

The text should be read in conjunction with the site plan, which defines the location for different management units and specific projects.

2. Habitat Management Objectives and Prescriptions

2.1 Neutral meadow

This area in the central south west of the site, marked in pale green on the map, should ideally be lightly grazed by cattle, but the location and cost of fencing make this option impractical. The next best option is to initiate a meadow management regime, cutting and bailing in August. The objective is to create a species rich neutral meadow, with rich insect and small mammal populations to support breeding birds.

Initially the area to be cut will need to be cleared of any rubble, bottles and scrap metal. It should then be topped with a box flail and chain harrowed to level out any minor irregularity.

A regular annual cycle of cutting and removing the hay at the start of August followed by a second cut in mid-September is essential to maintain the wild flowers. Cutting can either be done with a tractor and small bailer or with an Allen scythe and power rake. If you can not find anyone to take the hay, start a compost heap and use it on your ornamental flowerbeds. Composting green waste should form part of your environmental programme along with the use of peat-free products. Compost heaps in this locality could be very good breeding sites for grass snakes, so take care when you turn them. Snakes lay eggs in June or July and should usually have hatched by August. The meadow should not be sprayed with any pesticides, with the exception of spot treatment for thistles, docks and ragwort. It should also not be fertilised or drained.

The meadow is fairly species poor at present, but it should be possible to introduce additional species as pot grown plugs. These could perhaps be grown from seed by staff or inmates if buying-in plugs is too expensive. Plugs could be introduced over several years to spread the cost and work-load. They are best planted in April or early May and may need watering in dry weather, until established. If you aim for 10 to 15 plants per species, they should gradually spread across the site.

Wild flower plugs can be bought from Hartoft Wild Flower and Herb Nursery, Pickering Tel: Lastingham 648; BTCV Enterprises, Balby Road, Doncaster, 01302 572200; or Mike Handyside Wild Flowers, Knutsford, 01565 722995.

Recommended species include:

Common agrimony - Agrimonia eupatoria
Betony - Stachys officinalis
Bugle -Ajuga reptans 
Cowslip - Primula veris 
Cuckoo flower - Cardamine pratensis 
Black knapweed - Centaurea nigra 
Meadow cranesbill - Geranium pratense 
Oxeye daisy - Leucanthemum vulgare 
Field scabious - Knautia arvensis
Meadow sweet - Filipendula ulmaria        
Lady's bedstraw - Galium verum
Meadow vetchling - Lathyrus pratensis 
Tufted vetch - Vicia cracca

Seed can be obtained from Emorsgate Seeds, King's Lynn 01553 829 028.

2.2 Magnesian Limestones Grassland

The areas marked in dark yellow on the map have been covered with Magnesian Limestone. They include the fenced compound and the edges of parts of the car park. These have the potential to support low growing, attractive, lime loving plants. The objective is to create a more visually attractive ruderal limestone grassland community, rich in wild flowers and insects.

If the fence is no long required this could be removed to make the area more accessible and attractive.

The existing substrate will be hostile to many larger flowering plants, but this is an advantage to some of the more delicate smaller ones. The wild flowers should be introduced as seed sown in April. It should not be necessary to pre-prepare the surface.

Because the soil profile is so poor this area should not require annual management. It may need occasional topping with a strimmer in later summer.

Recommended seed

Bird's foot trefoil - Lotus corniculatus Clustered bellflower - Campanula glomerata Perforate St John's wort - Hypericum perforatum Hoary plantain -Plantago media

Kidney vetch -.4nthyllis vulneraria Wild marjoram - Origanum vulgare Wild thyme - Thymus polytrichus Autumn hawkbit - Leontodon autumnalis Wild strawberry - Fragaria vesca Viper's bugloss - Echium vulgare Harebell - Campanula rotundifolia Scarlet pimpernel -Anagallis arvensis Fairy flax - Linum catharticum

(Emorsgate Seed 015553 829 028)

2.3 Short Sward Grassland

This area coloured light yellow on the map is maintained short for security patrols. This does not preclude it from being more species rich as some plants can adapt to regular cutting. The objective would be to create an attractive, species-rich, short sward grassland.

The most important management prescription is no fertiliser and no herbicide. This allows niches for broad-leaved flowering plants. The cutter on the mower should also be set to its highest level, and cutting kept to the minimum required to maintain the unimpeded view and accessibility.

The grass sward should aim to have the following species widely distributed throughout.

Daisy - Bellis perennis
Dandelion - Taraxacum oj~cinale 
Yarrow -Achillea millefolium 
Self heal - Prunella vulgaris
Lesser celandine - Ranunculus ficaria 
Shining cranesbill - Geranium lucidum 
Birds foot trefoil - Lotus corniculatus 
Black medick-Medicago lupulina 
Ribwort plantain - Plantago lanceolata 
Common vetch - Vicia sativa
Primrose - Primula vulgaris

Some may need to be introduced from pot grown wild flower plugs.

2.4 River Don Baukside

The management regime along this stretch of river bank, marked in dark green on the map, is largely dictated by the Environment Agency flood defence team This means a regular mowing regime and periodic removal of some of the trees. The water is largely isolated from the margins in an over deepened channel, making it difficult to establish marginal habitats. With little scope for improving the general habitat, the focus in this area should be directed towards the following key species.

2.4.1 Bats

Both Daubenton's and long-eared bats are reported in the area and one would expect pipistrelles. The Daubenton's bats tend to roost in bridges and culverts, coming out at night to feed over water. The other two species frequently roost in buildings or tree cavities and are more likely to benefit from habitat enhancement projects. All bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Access for bats to the roof space of the maintenance block should be created, unless they are already using the buildings. This would be best done with prior advice from the local bat group. It may be necessary to fit out the roof space with a rough sawn beam for long-eared bats and suitable cavities for pipistrelles, if they do not already exist. These more permanent roost sites should be supplemented by 4 groupings of three bat boxes set at 120 degrees to each other on selected trees. Bat boxes should be made from untreated, rough sawn timber to the pattern in Appendix 1. They will need to be checked from time to time, when not in use, to ensure that they will not fall apart in the next season. Set them as high as possible to avoid disturbance.

Woodland birds

Small woodland birds such as tits, finches and robins are likely to be limited in number by available breeding sites. This is because most of the trees have not reached maturity. To compensate for this bird boxes could be erected in the woodland fringe along the bankside, to the design in Appendix 1. This woodland fringe would benefit from further planting of native trees such as alder, crack willow, aspen, sallow and alder buckthorn, to provide more longer-term niches and food for birds. Standing deadwood should be left, where it does not pose a threat to public safety.

Boxes should be erected singly, no less than 10m apart, as high up the tree as possible to avoid disturbance.

Owls

Both barn and tawny owls could be tempted to the site, but again the limiting factor is likely to be suitable nest sites. An owl box to the design in Appendix 1 should be included at the south-western end of the woodland.

2.5 Woodland beside the Don navigation

This area marked in brown on the map, is a species poor riparian woodland, which is not untypical of this sort of locality. High nutrient levels and sediment deposition tend to lead to a preponderance of nettle and cleavers. It also tends to attract Himalayan balsam an invasive alien, which may not pose a particular problem here, but the seeds could do elsewhere down stream. It should therefore be pulled in June, before it sets seed. The poplars are also non-native but as they are contributing to the structure of the habitat, they should be left. As they die they should be replaced with alder, crackwillow, grey willow or alder buckthorn. The drier slopes might be enhanced with some typical woodland flowers like:

Ramson Allium ursinum
Bluebell - Hyacinthoides non-scripta 
Red Campion - Silene dioica
Garlic mustard -Alliaria petiolata

Beside the river there are less options but bitter sweet - Solanum dulcamara would add a splash of colour.

Branches which overhang the river and fallen trees should be retained where possible as they provide good perches for kingfishers and lying up sites for otters.

As for the area along the River Don, bird and bat boxes could be used to augment nesting and roosting sites in this riparian woodland.

2.6 Bank of the River Cheswold

This steep bank down to the river has the advantage of being less disturbed by people. if the flood defence authority is agreeable, this would make an excellent refuge for otters. The river has only a limited number of suitable lying up places, especially when it is in full flood. If trees, scrub and tall vegetation can be established down to the river and human interference minimised, otters may use the area more frequently.

Consultation with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Otters and Rivers Officer should be undertaken to determine whether there is any benefit in installing an artificial otter holt.

As the canopy closes on the existing planting scheme behind the work shops, non-native ground flora such as the periwinkle (Vinca) which is highly invasive should be weeded out. A small quantity of woodland wildflower mix should be sown under the trees to establish a suitable ground flora on the bank.

Garlic mustard -Alliaria petiolata
Ramson -Allium ursinum
Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea 
Wood avens - Geum urbanum 
Bluebell - Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Red campion - Silene dioica
Hedge woundwort - Stachys sylvatica

This scrub should extend to the area beside the entrance using native hedgerow species such as holly (evergreen), blackthorn, hawthorn, alder buckthorn, field maple, hazel and wild privet (evergreen). These should be used to gradually replace the laurel currently used in the planting scheme. The thorny species should be used strategically to preclude access to the river bank.

2.6 Butterfly garden

The south facing wall opposite the main entrance to the prison, coloured magenta on the map, would make an ideal location for a butterfly garden. The objective for this project would be to create a nectar source for butterflies from February through to October. This floral display should enhance the entrance to the prison, augmenting the planting which has already been undertaken. Butterfly gardens often include food plants for the caterpillars such as nettles, grasses, garlic mustard etc. These are to be found elsewhere on the site and are not generally considered to be attractive, so have not been included within the proposed scheme. Native plants (marked) should come from a wild flower stockist as cultivars may be poorer in nectar. Old varieties or plants selected from local garden centres which are seen to be attracting large numbers of butterflies are likely to be most successful.

Climbers

Honey suckle -Lonicera pericyclamen (native)
Dog rose - Rosa canina (native)
Ivy - Hedera helix (native)

Shrubs

Wild privet - Ligustrum vulgare (Native)
Buddleia - Buddleia davidii
Hebe - Hebe sp.
Lavender - Lavandula spica

Herbs

Black knapweed - Centaurea nigra (native)
Field scabious - Knautia arvensis (native) 
Bird's foot trefoil - Lotus corniculatus (native) 
Primrose - Primula vulgaris (native)
Self heal - Prunella vulgaris (native) 
Thyme - Thymus drucei (native) 
Dog violet - Viola riviniana (native) 
Tufted vetch - Vicia cracca (native)
Ice plant - Sedum spectabile
Winter aconite -Eranthis hyemalis 
Spring crocus - Crocus chrysanthus 
Grape hyacinth -Muscari botryoides 
Wall flower - Cheiranthus cheiri 
Snapdragon -Antirrhinum majus
Michaelmas daisy -Aster amellus/acris/novae angliae

3.0 Monitoring

In order to be able to determine whether this programme of works is improving the wildlife value of the prison land, a system of monitoring will be required. This monitoring needs to be relatively easy to undertake and repeatable. I would suggest the following programme:

3.1 Butterflies

April to September - on a still, sunny day in the first week of every month walk the length of the butterfly garden and note the number of each species present. Also note the weather conditions if they are different from above. Start the monitoring process before any new planting is undertaken.

This will give you a feel for whether or not the butterfly numbers are enhanced by the scheme. You may wish to look at British Wildlife magazine before interpreting the results to see whether butterflies in general have had a good or bad year (via Yorkshire Wildlife Trust). If butterflies are doing well it is likely that moths, hoverflies and bees will also have benefited.

3.2 Breeding birds

April to June - on a set walk around the site note the number and species of birds holding territories. This walk should take in the nest boxes, which should be numbered so that occupancy can be monitored.

This will give you a feel for the success of the nest box scheme and enable you to determine whether the range and number of small birds has increased or decreased.

3.3 Otters

October, November, March and April - check under the foot bridge at the south-west corner and northern Don bridge for otter droppings. This needs to be done when the river has been at a relatively constant level for three or four days. Count the number of new otter droppings.

This will give a good indication of otter activity in the area, although there is not a direct relationship between the number of droppings and the number of otters.

3.4 Wildflowers

In early July each year a botanical survey of the meadow should be undertaken. This should as a minimum monitor the occurrence and distribution of the wildflowers which have been introduced. This can be done by mapping the distribution of the species, or counting the number of plants, if this is easier. It would also be beneficial to make a plant list annually for the meadow to see whether the management regime results in natural colonisation by other species.

This will enable you to monitor the success of introductions and the general management prescription.

4.0 Timetable

4.1 Ten year programme