Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Future management of Hawkesbury, Inglestone, Hareley & Assley Commons

January 2021- December 2029

South Gloucestershire Council are preparing to apply for funding for the management of the commons. If successful with the bid for Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship, it will provide the essential funding for 10 years from January 2021. The current Higher Level Stewardship funding ends in March 2021 so a new funding source is of utmost importance to continue looking after the commons. The application will be submitted in August 2021.
 
Management through the Higher Tier scheme will be very similar to the past 10 years during the Higher Level Stewardship agreement but will enable us to focus on what makes the commons special, protecting and improving the habitats.
 
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Key points that the funding will enable include:

• Grassland:

The majority of the commons will be managed as grassland, protecting, maintaining and improving this declining habitat through grazing and cutting where necessary. The SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) will be managed as restoration towards species rich grassland. This area has the potential to be restored to a priority grassland habitat through grazing, controlling undesirable species and some seed enhancement.

• Grazing:

Grazing will remain unchanged and is encouraged as it is an excellent method to manage the commons.

• Scrub management:

There will be control of some scrub to create a diverse age structure and control its spread, maintaining priority habitats. A 5-year management plan is being written, supporting scrub management carried out during the Higher Level Stewardship.

• Ponds:

Ponds will be manged to improve the specialist habitat, in particular for adders tongue spearwort, a plant found on only one other location in the UK. We are working with an expert to ensure that the relevant ponds have detailed plans for management of the threatened pond plant species. We have the opportunity to create a new pond through this funding. This is likely to be restoring a pond on the site of a historic pond on Hawkesbury Common, adjacent to Littley Woods.

• Wood pasture and parkland:

Some areas have been identified as ideal wood pasture and parkland. This will involve planting of native broadleaved trees at approximately 6-10 trees per hectare in these areas, planted at whole life spacing. This will provide an excellent mosaic of habitats adjacent to the current woodland areas. The open trees will provide niches for a host of invertebrates and birdlife, the understory will be managed as grassland providing food and shelter for wildlife and grazing animals. Open grown trees support more species than trees in dense woodland and trees are valuable for carbon capture.
 
Wooden post and wire tree guards will be used to protect newly planted trees from grazing animals.

• Weed control:

Weed control will continue where needed on the commons. This will vary depending on what is required, currently we have a twice a year cutting regime for thistles.

• Hedges:

Some hedges could be managed on rotation along the side on the common. This will maintain the hedges, providing shelter, berries and flowers and maintaining the distinctive landscape features.  

• Wildflower seed enhancement:

Wildflower seed enhancement will be focussed on small sections within the SSSI. Local seed is used so we know the varieties that are present and success rate is improved. Currently seed used on the commons is harvested from the SSSI adjacent to the commons.

• Gates:

The funding bid includes new gates for the entrances to the commons, some of which are in a poor state and need replacing.
 
Details of the options are illustrated in the map below. 

I am very excited that this funding will enable the commons to be looked after for another 10 years. If you have any queries please get in touch.

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higher_tier_options_map.pdf
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Illustrations of what the Wood Pasture and Parkland may look like after 30-40 years