Southborough Common Consultation Final Workshop: Managing Southborough Common Saturday 10 March am to 3.30pm

 Guidance developed by Natural England, National Trust, Open Spaces Society;  An approach A Common Purpose (2005) “… based on the principle of working with stakeholders to create increased levels of awareness of the issues and values related to their common and the range of possible solutions that would tackle the one while respecting the other.”

Findings of the Consultation Workshops  Landscape Workshop: Positive changes:Ageing stock of mature trees; Measures to control parking; Negative changes:More and faster traffic; Loss of middle and long-distance views; Loss of wildlife and biodiversity.  Landscape Aims: Clear scrub to improve views, increase grassland area; Actively manage woodland, improve walking conditions; Reduce the impact of traffic, restrict parking to tackle erosion; Re-open spaces for leisure, such as the Gravel Pit.

Findings of the Consultation Workshops  Access Workshop: Physical access problems:Invasive scrub and small trees; Roads, busy traffic; Muddy footpaths; Visual access enhancement:Clear trees to re-open views; Manage grassland sensitively by non- mechanical means; Develop a ‘commons watch’ system  Access to Information: Information panels; leaflets; self-guided walks linked to waymarked paths; website with ‘active mapping’; education pack and schools projects; family and community events - ‘Southborough Common Day’, special projects linked to the history and culture of the common.

Findings of the Consultation Workshops  Wildlife Workshop: Valuable today:Woodland with ancient trees, acid grassland etc; Relic habitats with potential reservoir of species; Amenity value; Documented loss of species … Potential value:Increase wildflowers and invertebrates; Open dense woodland, coppice for wildflowers; Maintain and restore acid grassland, heathland; Increase habitat diversity, re-introduce species; Uncover archaeology; Educational resource.

Findings of the Consultation Workshops  Comments from the ‘Drop-in’ sessions: Landscape:Sectional clearance done in the past should be repeated; Support for ‘special entrance’ with signs etc; Growth in traffic and parking is of serious detriment; Posts needed along Victoria Road, and overtaking bays; Some encroachment for houses. Access:Need for footpaths and seats throughout; Improve access for people with disabilities; Get dog-walkers organised – secateurs in pocket! Wildlife:Habitat has deteriorated considerably in the last 20 years e.g. butterflies, frogs, wildflowers – no longer evident; Open-up to bring back the bluebells, harebells & broom; Recent clearance of raspberries has brought back flowers; Clearance by hand is the best way.

Findings of the Consultation Workshops  Comments from the online discussion forum: Landscape:Detailed report submitted to the consultation by a former resident of Southborough. Key recommendations:

Legislation affecting common land and Southborough Common Implications for future management

Legislation Affecting Southborough Common Statutory Duties and Acts  Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) – Duty to High Weald AONB: “Have regard to “the primary purpose of designation, to conserve and enhance natural beauty”  Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006 – Duty to Biodiversity: “Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity”

Legislation Affecting Southborough Common Local Planning Authority  Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) protect wildlife at a local level, and are incorporated into the planning system by the Local Planning Authority. They: “… have a fundamental role to play in meeting overall national biodiversity targets, contributing to the quality of life and the well being of the community and in supporting research and education”. Tunbridge Wells Borough has 59 Local Wildlife Sites.

Legislation Affecting Southborough Common Commons Act (2006)  Enables commons to be managed more sustainably by commoners and landowners working together through commons councils, with powers to regulate grazing and other agricultural activities.  Provides better protection for common land and greens. It recognises that the protection of common land has to be proportionate to the harm caused and that some specified works can be carried out without the need for consent.

Legislation Affecting Southborough Common Commons Act (2006) Works and processes that do not require Section 38 Consent from the Secretary of State:  Works so small that they do not impede access, e.g. small signs and notice boards;  Works that do not constitute a new impediment to access, e.g. repairs to lawfully constructed footpaths, roads, car parks;  Works that facilitate access, e.g. new gates or stiles in existing boundaries;  Processes (rather than works) that do not need consent.

Legislation Affecting Southborough Common Commons Act (2006) Works that are exempt from the Section 38 Consent process:  Erection of temporary fencing to enclose not more than 10% of a common for up to 6-months to facilitate grazing in the interests of nature conservation. (Equates to approx. 180m by 180m)  Erection of temporary fencing to enclose not more than 1% of a common for up to 1-year to protect vegetation in a period of restoration (e.g. to protect from grazing animals). (58m by 58m)  Erection of temporary fencing to enclose not more than 1% of a common for up to 5-years in the interests of nature conservation to facilitate management in relation to a written agreement between the landowner and Natural England.

Exploring Management Techniques What management techniques are available for us to use at Southborough Common?

Rotational Clearance, Ride and Glade Management  Used in woodlands, on heathlands and grasslands, and for managing wetland habitats such as ponds and ditches;  Creates a dynamic set of conditions in one location, suited to a range of species;  Retains the longer-established conditions present at a site to which its current flora and fauna are adapted.

Example of Rotational Clearance: Coppicing From Fuller & Warren (1993)  Practised since early Neolithic period;  Harvests trees on a cyclical basis for rods, poles, timber and firewood.

Example of Rotational Clearance: Coppicing

Species Response to Coppicing: Invertebrates Changes in colony size of heath fritillary in relation to the growth of vigorous chestnut coppice in a Kentish woodland.

Species Response to Coppicing: Birds Graphs showing the abundance of breeding migrant birds in a Kentish woodland in relation to the age of coppice. (Fuller & Warren (1993)

Rotational Management: Heathland  Controlling birch and promoting the four recognised stages of heather growth: 1)Pioneer 2)Building 3)Mature 4)Degenerate

Rotational Management: Grasslands  Using cutting regimes to promote a varied structure;  Allowing flowering plants to set-seed;  Promoting the development of tussocky grassland, of particular benefit to invertebrates;  Maintaining (enhancing?) amenity value of grasslands.

Managing Woodland Rides for Wildlife  Ride is ‘scalloped’ to create sunny sheltered conditions;  Further structural variation of benefit to wildlife may be achieved through rotational scrub clearance

Species Response to Ride Management: Butterflies  Ride management achieves both an increase in the number of individuals, and an increase in the number of species.

Planning a System of Rides and Glades  East-west orientated rides receive a greater total of sunshine hours, whilst north-south running rides receive greater heat energy in the middle of the day.

Planning a System of Rides and Glades  Glades created at the intersection of pathways can benefit from both the east-west and north-south effect;  Enhances visual access through site as well.