18 August 2008, Monday
Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve Update
Heathland restoration:
The Highland cattle have done a superb job in Warren Glen over summer reducing the dominance of bracken and producing pockets of acid grassland which over the years will grow bigger and eventually create a large bank of acid grassland with patches of heather.
The bracken and gorse seedlings have been cut in the braken scraped area to further stress the bracken and control the gorse seedlings that have been a big problem this summer. This cutting will have to continue for the next few years until the problem has diminshed enough for it to be controlled by grazing.
The colonisation of the bracken scraped area by ground nesting bees, wasps and beetles has been exceptional with large aggregations of ornate-tailed digger wasps (Cerceris rybyensis) and green tiger beetles. The reptile numbers also continue to grow with four species of reptile now using the area with especially good numbers of slow-worm and grass snake.
You can follow the results of the monitoring by viewing the reptile monitoring spreadsheet regularly.
Ecclesbourne Meadow:
Fencing of Ecclesbourne Meadow will start soon so we can introduce grazing which is essential to restore this meadow which is being badly affected by bramble encroachment. A mixed grazing regime of cattle, sheep and ponies will produce a botanically rich flora with good structure free of scrub.
Fishponds Meadow:
This meadow, currently the best quality of the meadow areas within Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve, is being cut soon with the hay used to seed a botanically poorer area of semi-natural grassland near Saxons Pond.
Arable Management:
The re-seeded arable margins are developing very well in places with good develop of red clover and vetches needed as a nectar and pollen source for bumblebees and solitary bees such as long-horned bees. The wild bird cover strips have also developed well and are especially colourful this year as dwarf sunflowers were included in the mix, but more importantly the quinoa, kale and other seed-bearing crops in the strips are developing well and should produce a bumper crop of seeds for finches and buntings over autumn and winter.
The bare ground under the crops in the strips and in the main body of the mixed crops of barley, wheat and oats have been colonised by carpets of knot-grass, redshank and other arable weeds which in themselves are very improtant producing big oily seeds essential for skylarks and dunnocks over winter. (Note: Dunnocks are not traditionally thought of as farm birds but the bird ringing studies of the farm fields over winter have been showing how important the wild bird strips are for the dunnock population at the site.)
Filed Under: Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
Posted by: Andy Phillips
15 July 2008, Tuesday
Highland Cattle at Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
A total of 25 Highland cattle are presently grazing within Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve as part of our ongoing management to restore maritime heathland and revert arable back to semi-natural grassland.
Nine animals are in the field between the Helipad and North's Seat. A path runs through this field so please keep your dog on a lead as you cross this field as the animals will become more inquisitive as they get used to people walking through the field.
Another 16 are present in the larger grazing compartment in Warren Glen. They are young animals and the bracken is quite tall at the moment so are difficult to spot but they are currently doing a good job knocking down the bracken while looking for grass. These animals will be moved into the smaller grazing compartment and then into the field between Brakey Bank and Warren Wood. They will also graze the two fields adjacent to Coastguard Lane.
Filed Under: Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
Posted by: Andy Phillips
29 May 2008, Thursday
Exmoor Ponies at Warren Glen - Update
The Exmoor ponies have now left the site. They have done such a good job of grazing the heathland and acid grassland areas within Warren Glen and have been such an attraction for visitors to the nature reserve we will endeavor to secure their return next winter.
Highland cattle are due to be brought down to graze Warren Glen throughout the summer. The combination of bracken scraping, winter grazing by ponies and sheep and summer grazing by cattle is beginning to produce excellent results in restoring the heathland vegetation that has been smothered by dense bracken for many years.
Filed Under: Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
Posted by: Andy Phillips
20 May 2008, Tuesday
Friends of Church and Robsack Woods make ‘Story Circle benches’ for children in Churchwood School.
The Friends of Church and Robsack woods have been making connections with the teachers & children at Churchwood School since the summer of 2006.
This has included taking children out to the woods in the Woodland club, leading class walks and helping to provide art activities in the July 2007 WOOD ART WEEK.
During this year some of the group were engaged in the ‘story circle benches project.’ Over 3 days, the wood was cut and prepared; this was taken from the old coppice area in the wood. Then the benches were constructed and installed in the school wooded area of the playground.
A presentation of photographs of the construction process will be done soon at a school assembly.
It is hoped that the children will be able to sit outside on the benches under the trees and enjoy them for many years to come.
Filed Under: Church Wood & Robsack Wood
Posted by: Mary Dawson
02 May 2008, Friday
Spring Tree Walk – 13 April 2008
Again this event was well attended with over 24 people eager to know more about the trees in Hastings’ premier park - Alexandra Park.
Hastings resident expert Dr Owen Johnson was leading the group through the parks more interesting trees. With over 300 different trees and 10 of them being considered as ‘Champion Trees’ (a large and established example) there was no shortage of examples to point out. The group experienced the smell of chocolate scented leaves and with paper and pen at the ready noted facts about rarities you would not even notice.
For forthcoming events check out the events section.
Next event is a Herb Hunt in Alexandra Park on Sunday 15 June, 2-3pm. Please call 0845 274 1001 to book.
Filed Under: General
Posted by: Stuart Alexander
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