Update on grassland fungi and Biological Heritage Sites

One of the drivers of this project has been to help identify important fungi sites in Lancashire. In the context of species and site conservation this can happen in a variety of ways.

Most simply, sharing your observations openly with us and allowing us access to the full location means that we are able to flag where protected species or important sites are located. But this can be hit and miss and relies on people checking the data, which does not always happen as it should.

Beyond this, in Lancashire, we can also identify sites which are of county significance for biodiversity. Such sites are called Biological Heritage Sites (BHS for short) and are selected on the basis of a selection criteria and on evidence to show that a site meets that criteria. BHS are a more powerful tool as they are considered in the planning process, local conservation and nature recovery so afforded some level or protection from inappropriate land use and development. A BHS will also receive survey visits and bespoke management recommendations to encourage preservation and restoration of the biodiversity present.

In the past there has been no selection criteria for fungi grasslands (or the evidence to help us select them). Now, following a consultation process with specialists and having obtained official sign off, as part of this project, we finally have the ‘rules’ that will help us to identify such sites!

Selection guideline Fu4 sets the thresholds for county level significance of fungi grasslands in Lancashire. Sites meeting (or exceeding) these thresholds will now be considered for listing as a BHS. Indeed as a result of project surveys, including your data, we are already able to identify some such sites!

Current BHS Selection Guidelines can be found here: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/lern/site-designations/local-sites/biological-heritage-sites/bhs-guidelines-for-site-selection/

The iNaturalist Lancashire Waxcap Project can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/lancashire-waxcaps/