Phase 1 Habitat and White-Clawed Crayfish Surveys – North York Moors National Park

Client – Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Key Services – Habitat Assessment/Species Surveys

Duration –Summer 2017

Project Overview – Phase 1 and White-Clawed Crayfish Surveys within the Ryedale catchment, North Yorkshire Moors

Ecological Input – As part of the £2.8 million Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership Scheme ‘Ryevitalise’ project, Haycock and Jay Associates were commissioned to undertake Phase 1 and White-Clawed Crayfish Surveys within the Ryedale catchment situated in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park.

The Phase 1 habitat survey covered the entire ~ 410km² project area and involved confirming and updating previous survey as well as mapping habitats from scratch. Important ecological features, such as species-rich hedgerows and veteran trees, and habitats for target species, such as bats and water vole, were noted and opportunities to create habitat links at a landscape scale were reported.

Surveys for white-clawed crayfish were undertaken at a total of 30 stretches of rivers and tributaries in the upper and middle Rye catchment during September 2017. Surveys identified the presence of 4 white-clawed crayfish and 4 American signal crayfish. Other notable species recorded during the surveys include bullhead, stone loach and stickleback.

Outcomes – The results of white-clawed crayfish surveys at 30 locations to propose candidate ark sites for the reintroduction of this species and produce an action plan for facilitating the necessary survey, translocation and habitat management.

Following this work in 2018 we surveyed habitats along ~60km of watercourses in the project area to identify conservation issues and opportunities.

More information on the “Ryevitalise” project can be found here https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/looking-after/ryevitalise