Weed Control Programme
As the Commons are managed through an agri-environment scheme, certain farming regulations need to be followed. This includes controlling the spread of 'injurious' weeds, such as creeping thistle, spear thistle, ragwort, broad-leaved dock and curled dock.
There is a weed control plan in place on the Commons, which you can download by clicking the links below.
This year, 2014, a combination of topping, pulling and hand-cutting will be used, mainly to control the spread of creeping and spear thistle but also to control the other injurious weeds listed above. Topping will be undertaken by a local contractor, and hand-work will be undertaken by the Trust for Conservation Volunteers (TCV). The volunteers from TCV are all students undertaking a work-based environmental conservation course, so they are learning new skills as well as helping to maintain good agricultural condition on the Commons! You can read more about TCV on their website.
This year the areas to be topped include Inglestone Common and the western side of Hawkesbury Common. The thistles were topped on Hawkesbury Common last year, but the area has been re-assessed this year and the thistles need another knock to keep them in check. Hand-cutting and pulling will be taking place on areas of Inglestone Common, including north of Spoil Coppice and Lance Coppice and the ride between Oakhill Cottage and Bucklesbury Farm.
There is a weed control plan in place on the Commons, which you can download by clicking the links below.
This year, 2014, a combination of topping, pulling and hand-cutting will be used, mainly to control the spread of creeping and spear thistle but also to control the other injurious weeds listed above. Topping will be undertaken by a local contractor, and hand-work will be undertaken by the Trust for Conservation Volunteers (TCV). The volunteers from TCV are all students undertaking a work-based environmental conservation course, so they are learning new skills as well as helping to maintain good agricultural condition on the Commons! You can read more about TCV on their website.
This year the areas to be topped include Inglestone Common and the western side of Hawkesbury Common. The thistles were topped on Hawkesbury Common last year, but the area has been re-assessed this year and the thistles need another knock to keep them in check. Hand-cutting and pulling will be taking place on areas of Inglestone Common, including north of Spoil Coppice and Lance Coppice and the ride between Oakhill Cottage and Bucklesbury Farm.
| weed_control_plan_vs1.pdf |
| weed_control_map_a2.pdf |
| weed_control_map_a2_numbered_v2.pdf |
| pb7190-harmful-weed-control.pdf |