What’s new?
30 May 2008
Rare acid grassland reserves get a boost
Funding helps protect declining habitats for people and wildlife
High Wood and Meadow and Ramsden Corner Nature Reserves, near Daventry will be receiving habitat improvements thanks to a grant of £18,000 from The Veolia Environmental Trust - awarded through the Landfill Communities Fund - for the 'Harebells in the Hollows' project.
The two reserves are situated in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside, at the start of the Cotswolds. Both have acid grassland, which is a rare and declining habitat in the county. It is estimated that an area equivalent to only 10 football pitches (10 hectares) remains on protected sites in Northants. High Wood and Ramsden Corner are the only acid grassland Sites of Special Scientific Interest nature reserves and both are highlighted in the Acid Grassland Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).
A couple of years ago The Wildlife Trust surveyed acid grassland sites in the area to plan its conservation strategy. This new 2-year 'Harebells in the Hollows' project will enable the charity to act on the findings with grazing and practical land management — Harebells are just one of the many wildflowers to be found on acid grassland sites.
As well as funding improvements and essential training and tools for staff and volunteers, funding will also enable the Trust to develop its conservation-grazing programme by boosting its ‘flying flocks’ of native-breed sheep. The sheep selectively graze the sensitive grasslands, keeping coarse weeds and scrub in check. The North Ronaldsay flock that is kept at High Wood is also a nucleus flock for the original flock in the Scottish Isles. It is kept as a pure gene pool in case of disaster on the native island.
If you are interested to find out more about the project, please contact Tamzin Smith on 01604 405285 or Tamzin.Smith (at) wildlifebcnp.org
Please follow the link to see coverage in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.