Species Action Plan
Black Redstart

“London is the metropolis not only of man but of the
 black redstart in the British Isles” (Holmes et al., 1957)

1.	Aims
•	To protect, conserve and enhance the present population in London.
•	To promote the black redstart as a cultural icon for London.
•	To raise awareness of the black redstart to the population as a whole and more specifically to planning authorities, architects, landscapers and developers.

2.	Introduction
The black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is an attractive, robin-sized bird of the thrush
family with a distinctive orange/brown tail. A relatively recent colonist from Europe, black
redstarts are regarded by many as the ‘bomb site’ or ‘power station’ bird. In continental
Europe the bird is common and associated with rocky mountainous terrain and cliffs. In
the UK, although some birds do breed on cliffs along the south coast, the black
redstart’s distribution is concentrated in the urban environment. Power stations, gasworks, industrial units and dilapidated wharves are their preferred habitat. For this
reason the species’ conservation requirements are unique for a British bird.

In London, the black redstart is concentrated on both industrial sites and post-industrial
brownfield land along the River Thames East of the River Wandle and along the River
Lee. Isolated pairs are still found in central London, which was the bird’s stronghold after the second-world war and they breed on at least one mainline station in central London.
The boroughs of Havering, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, City of London, Islington, Camden, Wandsworth, Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley regularly
host breeding birds. A combination of stony bare ground, sparsely vegetated areas and
a complexity of structures, whether they are cranes, old jetties, piles of scrap metal cars
or disused building complexes, appear to be its preferred habitat.

3.	Current Status
The black redstart population in the UK is concentrated in London, the West Midlands
and the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk, but there are clusters in a number of other
conurbations such as Nottingham, Liverpool and Manchester. The population is
presently thought to fluctuate between 80 and 120 pairs. The last estimate by the Rare
Breeding Birds Panel in 1996 put the total at 28-65 pairs. The vast majority of these are
in England.
The species is most probably under-recorded. On average there are between 8 and 12
pairs breeding in Greater London each year with a further 6-10 singing males present.
One pair breeding in a London Borough would therefore amount to approximately 3% of
the national population.

4.	Specific Factors Affecting the Species
4.1	Regeneration
The large black redstart population present in the City until the mid-1960s was displaced
by the gradual redevelopment of the area. Regeneration along the Thames, especially in
Tower Hamlets, Lambeth and Southwark during the late 1970s and 1980s, led to a
further decrease in the population in the centre of London. At the time there was little
consideration of the conservation requirements of black redstarts and the general view
was that their conservation was not possible within the culture of regeneration. As an
opportunist species, it was thought that the bird would find suitable habitat elsewhere.
Pressure from loss of habitat is likely to increase since a high target has been set for the
development of brownfield sites in London.

5.	Current Action
5.1	Legal status
In the UK the black redstart is afforded full protection as a Schedule 1 breeding species
under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 (as amended). It is also listed as a Red
Data Book species and is on Appendix II of the Berne Convention on the Conservation
of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 1979.
5.2	Mechanisms targeting the species
These current actions are ongoing. They need to be supported and continued in addition to the new action listed under Section 7.
5.2.1	Advice
The London Biodiversity Partnership launched www.blackredstarts.org.uk to provide information and advice on black redstart conservation both in the capital and nationally in 2002.
The Environment Agency and English Nature now advise developers that they require
black redstart surveys on all likely sites along the Thames and the River Lea and that, if
present, mitigation for the species should be included in any planning proposals.  In 1999 the London Wildlife Trust published ‘Black Redstart - an advice note for their
conservation in London’, which drew attention to the species, the legislation, and its
conservation requirements. This was distributed to planners, developers and
consultants (Frith et al., 1999).
The Creekside Environment Programme published ‘Black Redstarts in Deptford’ for local
site owners and managers in 1997, highlighting the unique contribution that the
industries along Deptford Creek played in the survival of the species. In 2002, the Enfield Black Redstart Working Group made available an advice note aimed specifically for the Lower Lea area of Enfield which the local council develops. 
5.2.2	Provision for black redstarts in development
Specific provision for black redstarts has been incorporated into a number of new
developments via landscape and built architecture. These include ‘landmark’ buildings at
the Laban Dance Centre and the Greenwich Cruise Liner Terminal in Deptford.
Site Action Plans for the species have been prepared by the British Trust for Ornithology
in Deptford Creek, where development has threatened their survival.
5.2.3	Habitat improvement
Detailed landscape drawings of both ground and roof level possibilities are now published on www.blackredstarts.org.uk.  A number of such schemes are planned and in some cases have now been built. 

6.	Objectives, Actions and Targets
Most of these actions are specific to this species. However, there are other, broader actions that apply generically to a number of habitats and species. These are located in a separate ‘Generic Action’ section which should be read in conjunction with this document. There are generic actions for Site Management, Habitat Protection, Species Protection, Ecological Monitoring, Biological Records, Communications and Funding.
Please note that the partners identified in the tables are those that have been involved in the process of forming the plan. It is not an exclusive list and new partners are both welcomed and needed. The leads identified are responsible for co-ordinating the actions – but are not necessarily implementers.

Objective 1	Increase our knowledge of the distribution and population of black redstarts in London
Target: To organise a London-wide survey during the breeding season in 2006

Action	Target Date	Lead	Other Partners	
1.1 Identify key locations for black redstarts and co-ordinate their survey	Achieved 2001	LWT	GLA, EA, LA	
1.2 Collate current data on London black redstart population and map onto Geographical Information System (GIS)	
Achieved 2001
	LWT	LNHS, Essex Birdwatching
Society
	
1.3 Remain informed regarding current data on London black redstart population and update Geographical Information System (GIS) maps	Ongoing	LWT	LNHS, Essex Birdwatching Society, 
East London Birders Forum	
1.4 Secure funding for, commission and complete survey of wider Thames Gateway area	2006	LWT	Thames Gateway Partnership	
1.5 Implement a monitoring programme to assess population trends	2006	Working Group	BTO, LNHS	

Objective 2	To promote good practice where development is liable to impact black redstart populations
Target: Determine black redstart habitat requirements within urban areas and disseminate this information as it is acquired

Action	Target Date	Lead	Other Partners	
2.1 Disseminate existing black redstart Advice Note 	 Achieved 2003	LWT 	LA, EN, EA, GLA	
2.2 Maintain updated Advice Note and disseminate as required	Ongoing	LWT	LA, EN, EA, GLA	
2.3 Promote the black redstart website	Ongoing	LBP	BRWG, LWT	
2.4 Commission and complete PhD (beginning 2003) studying brownfield invertebrate life to increase current knowledge of black redstart food sources	2006	LWT 	Royal Holloway,
BW, Livingroofs.org	
2.5 Promote results of PhD research to appropriate audiences to encourage the creation of specific landscape schemes in new developments and key locations	2006	LWT	LA, BTCV, LLP,
EN, EA, Royal Holloway University of London, Livingroofs.org	
2.6 Assimilate annual black redstart research, determine habitat requirements in urban areas, and disseminate knowledge to relevant parties including developers and planners	Annually	LWT	GLA, Royal Holloway University of London	
2.7 Monitor where mitigation is being provided for within development schemes in the key areas for black redstarts wherever possible	Ongoing	LWT	GLA, EA, EN, BRWG	

Relevant Action Plans
London Plans
Tidal Thames; Wasteland, Built Structures.
National Plans
Urban Habitat Statement.

Key References
Frith, M, Gedge, D and Sinnadurai, P (1999). Black Redstart: an advice note for its conservation in London. London Wildlife Trust .

Frith, M and Gedge, D (2000). The Black Redstart in urban Britain - a conservation conundrum? British Wildlife, 11. August, 381-388.

Gedge, D., (2001), Roofspace – a place for brownfield biodiversity, ECOS 22 (3-4): 69-74 (BANC). , 

Gibbons, DW; Reid, JB & Chapman RA (1993). The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991. T & AD Poyser, London.

Grant, G., Engleback, L, and Nicholson, B., (2003) Green roofs: their existing status and potential for conserving biodiversity in urban areas. English Nature Research Report 498. English Nature.

London Biodiversity Partnership: London Development Agency, Mayor of London, English Nature (2003). Design for Biodiversity: a guidance document for development in London. London Development Agency, London.

Holmes, RC, Ackland, CM, Ashby, CB, Collenette, CL, Fitter, RSR, Parrinder, ER & Richards, BA (1957). The Birds of the London Area since 1900. New Naturalist, Collins, London.

Abbreviations
BRWG - Black Redstart Working Group BTCV - British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
BTO - British Trust for Ornithology
BW - British Waterways
EA - Environment Agency	EN - English Nature 
GLA - Greater London Authority 
LA - Local Authorities
LWT - London Wildlife Trust
LLP - Lower Lea Project
LNHS - London Natural History Society	

Contact
The Lead for this species is London Wildlife Trust.

Dusty Gedge	Tel 020 8692 2109
Email dustygedge@yahoo.co.uk
Web www.blackredstarts.org.uk
         www.livingroofs.org