On the ground in November 2018

December 6, 2018

From meeting with farmers, offering training and support to local communities, leading walks, organising and training volunteers, controlling invasive species and supporting key species, South Downs National Park rangers are out in the National Park every weekday and many weekends over the year.

Don’t forget to say hello if you spot them out working. Here’s a taste of what they achieved with our volunteers in November 2018:

Led Heart Smart walks in Eartham with 40 people, Clapham with 25 people and Binsted with 8 people
Started the new season of coppicing Church Copse and Rewel Wood and cleared the pond
Carried out scrub control to improve chalk grassland at Medley Bottom SSSI, Chantry Hill SSSI, Steyning Combe SNCI and Beeding Hill and more
Completed river maintenance work at East Meon at a section recently naturalised and planted, work included removing invasive plants and completed scrub management on the a section of bank to open up blackthorn thickets and allow vegetation to establish.
Supported a local landowner with tree planting following removal of poplar plantation. The new woodland will be more wildlife friendly with scrub species and oak trees.
Cut and collected seeds at Madehurst Church wildflower meadow
Working with farmers to cut hedges in a way that improves biodiversity and layed 100 yards of hedge in Plumpton village.
Replaced a kiss gate with a pedestrian gate near Alfirston to improve access.