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On the ground in December 2017



On the ground in December 2017

December 28, 2017

Don’t forget to say hello if you spot our rangers and volunteers out working in the National Park. Here’s a taste of what they achieved in December 2017:

  • Carried out scrub clearance for butterflies at important chalk downland sites near Winchester to maintain a stronghold habitat for the rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly; at Noar Hill which will enhance habitat for both the Duke of Burgundy and brown hairstreak; and with Butterfly Conservation Sussex at Steyning Bostal chalkpit (see photo) which will benefit butterflies such as Adonis blue.
  • Cleared scrub on a Local Wildlife Site at Brighton & Hove Golf Course; at Riverside Park, working in partnership with Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council; at the Long Man Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); and Warren Valley.
  • Brought in remaining water vole monitoring floats to end surveying for the year. Activity was recorded on the floats even into December showing how mild the weather had been.
  • Helped to lay a hedge at Stedham Campsite, owned by Midhurst Youth Trust, and introduced Lord Gardiner, the Minister for National Parks, to the process.
  • Carried out surveys along the Serpent Trail to see what work will be needed to maintain the trail and manage invasive rhododendron.
  • Organised and attended a training day with Historic England on archaeology in the landscape and assessing the condition of Scheduled Monuments.
  • Finished assessing scheduled monuments at risk or vulnerable on the Heritage at Risk Register and identified where volunteers can help improve conditions and carried out ongoing maintenance of the Scheduled Monument at Cloth Farm.
  • Ran a corporate volunteering day for UK power networks on Iping Common.
  • Installed a barn owl box in Findon Valley.
  • Pruned trees on the Centurion Way, carried out coppicing at Church Copse and tree felling at Graffham Down.
  • Led a ‘Cache in, trash out’ litter-picking event for Geocachers at Graffham Down.
  • Worked with the farmer and Natural England to secure grazing of Exmoor ponies on Firle escarpment SSSI to help control tor grass.
  • Carried out site visits with Natural England at the eastern end of the National Park looking at site management and where we can work in partnership to improve the condition of chalk grassland.

Thank you to Butterfly Conservation Sussex (@BCSussex) for sharing and letting us use their photos of National Park rangers working with them on chalk grassland management at Steyning Bostal chalk pit.