Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Higher Tier, Countryside Stewardship

January 2021- December 2030

South Gloucestershire Council have been successful with funding for the management of the commons. The Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship, will provide the essential funding from January 2021 until December 2030.
 
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.
 
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 17 trees per hectare in these areas, planted at least 15m apart to allow for whole life spacing. Tree species are likely to include oak (pedunculate and sessile), black poplar, birch, walnut, lime, wild cherry, crab apple and willow. 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. More information about wood pasture and parkland can be found on the Wood Pasture and Parkland Network.
 
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 will be managed on rotation along the boundary 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.
 
Tree planting opportunities
 
We plan to plant trees in the Wood Pasture areas in winter 2021/22. We would love to work with you to make this a success. We are planning tree planting events during the winter and will need a hand with monitoring trees once planted. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch. The more hands the merrier!
 
 
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 map.pdf
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Illustrations of what the Wood Pasture and Parkland may look like after 30-40 years