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On the ground in January 2018



On the ground in January 2018

February 6, 2018

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 January 2018.

  • Gave a talk on the Meon Valley Partnership to West Meon Women’s Institute who asked lots of questions and shared their own stories about the River Meon.
  • Carried out six days work on chalk downs near Winchester with Butterfly Conservation as part of their work to improve habitat for the nationally threatened Duke of Burgundy butterfly.
  • Coppiced hazel and felled larger field maple at Avington Park, supporting the landowner with woodland management.
  • Ran a Big Community Work Party at Lynchmere Community Orchard to prune the fruit trees.
  • Restored Iping Common Geocache (we’re not going to tell you where exactly…)
  • Tidied brambles, rhododendron, dead birch and overhanging willow in Midhurst Common car park with Friends of Midhurst Common, Mind and Cowdray Estate.
  • Completed this season’s work at Verdley Wood to improve the habitat for the rare pearl bordered fritillary. They’ll be heading back to monitor in a few months’ time.
  • Arranged Scheduled Monument Consent for improvement works to Heyshott cross dykes.
  • Completed coppicing in one coop at Church Copse and at Clapham Woods – the latter in partnership with Butterfly Conservation.
  • Put up a barn owl box at Peppering High Barn.
  • Cleared scrub at: Bepton Down Long Furlong SNCI; Oxenborne Down, Butser Hill with Hampshire County Council; Lancing Ring LNR; Pepperscombe SNCI; Warren Valley; Long Man SSSI; Mill Hill LNR/LWS; Anchor Bottom SSSI and Beeding Hill SSSI.
  • Cleared scrub to create toad habitat at Riverside Park in Newhaven in partnership with East Sussex County Council .
  • Cleared fallen trees on South Downs Way, widened rides in West Dean Woods to support the population of wild daffodils and planted trees at Kingston Field.
  • Supported a volunteer group from MIND at Graffham Downland Nature Reserve
  • Carried out pond maintenance work at Telscombe, clearing reed mace;
  • Restored a pond at Truleigh Hill YHA as part of the Rampion/National Grid Habitat and Access Improvement Project.
  • Continued management (stump treatment) of Mile Oak Local Wildlife Site.