.JPG "Grazing Project, Belted Galloways on Wisley Common (J. Adler)")
Grazing Project, Belted Galloways on Wisley Common (J. Adler)
The Trust has seen fantastic results on many of the reserves...
Surrey Wildlife Trust
Surrey Wildlife Trust is the biggest manager of lowland heathland in the Thames Basin. The Trust-managed portfolio comprises 3,500 hectares of the Surrey County Council estate, 3,500 hectares of Ministry of Defence training areas and over 500 hectares of Trust or third party-owned land. The Trust is also providing grazing stock to the Surrey Heathland Project and Natural England.
A variety of grazing animals are used, including native rare-breed cattle, British goats and red deer. In an exciting technological twist to traditional methods, Global Positioning System (GPS) collars are being used to monitor and study the interactions between the animals and their environment.
Virtual tour by Mike McFarlane
What's happening?
The primary aim of the project is to fulfil Higher Level Stewardship prescription targets across the landholding.
The Surrey Wildlife Trust herd of Belted Galloways has grown from just three animals in 2007 to 243 in June 2011.
The stock generally has to come off the protected heathland in winter and therefore there is a requirement to have significant areas of layback land. Surrey Wildlife Trust now manages nearly 200 hectares of unprotected grassland for over-wintering the stock. This land is being sensitively managed as far as possible to increase its attractiveness for wildlife.
The Trust has seen fantastic results on many of the reserves since the reintroduction of these animals. Scrub has been devoured and beautiful mosaics of vegetation created. Species have appeared which have not been recorded on sites before, such as the yellow hairy dung flies, plus numbers of some threatened species have increased. The best example is Surrey’s sole colony of Bog Hair Grass which was down to just a few plants in 2005. There are now more than 30 plants following a couple of years of livestock grazing.
Around 40% of the land is registered common land - community involvement allows local people to help choose the management techniques most appropriate for their greenspaces.
There are 1.3 million people in Surrey many of whom we are hoping to help discover the beautiful countryside on their doorstep. We give talks, shows and guided walks to around 1,000 members of the public a year.
Volunteers are used to help check and look after the livestock and wildlife on their local sites.
Start date: 2007
Scheme area: 3,000 hectares
Trust reserves within the scheme
Ash Ranges, Bagmoor Common, Barossa & Poors Allotment, Bay Pond,
Betchworth Quarry, Bisley & West End Commons, Brentmoor Heath,
Broadstreet & Backside Commons, Brookwood Lye, Chobham Common NNR,
Dawcombe, Hackhurst Downs, Howell Hill, Manor Farm, Newdigate Brickworks,
Newlands Corner, Norbury Park, Papercourt Meadows, Pirbright Ranges,
Royal Common, Thundry Meadows, Whitmoor Common, Wisley Common
This scheme is helping species including...
Lowland heath species e.g. nightjar (184 territories), woodlark (83 territories), Dartford warbler (388 territories), orchids and sundews, all six British reptiles, specialist dung/bare ground invertebrates.
Chalk grassland species.
Water vole, kingfisher, skylark, barn owl
Current threats to the landscape
Development, inappropriate management and neglect
This scheme is also...
Helping wildlife adapt to climate change, improving water quality, reducing flood risk, storing carbon, reducing soil erosion, providing habitat for pollinating insects, improving access for people, supporting urban regeneration, providing employment opportunities, volunteering opportunities, skills training, environmental education and producing local food.
Partners
Natural England, Ministry of Defence, local authorities, British Trust for Ornithology, local landowners, Surrey Heathland Project, Deer Initiative, RSPCA
To find out more
Email: info@surreywt.org.uk | Tel: 01483 795440 | Grazing project
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 Adam Cormack.JPG)
