Heritage - Countryside & Biodiversity
The East Hampshire countryside is spectacularly beautiful with chalk hangers, heathlands, meadows, downland, sites of special scientific interest, National and local nature reserves and woodlands. It is one of the most heavily wooded districts in the country with 17% woodland cover. It contains many rare plants and animals and has some of the best rivers in the country for fishing and wildlife.
It is mainly a farmed landscape, predominently arable with some cattle and sheep. Countryside education is an important part of helping people understand about farming.
East Hampshire District Council's role
EHDC's Countryside Officer helps protect and conserve the countryside of East Hampshire. He manages the following council owned sites:
- Buriton Chalk Pits, Buriton (Local Nature Reserve);
- Liss Riverside Railway walk, Liss (LNR); in partnership with Liss Parish Council and Liss Conservation Rangers.
- Liss Meadow, Liss
- Havant Thicket (part of the woodland to the north east), Rowlands Castle
- site near Warner's Wood, Worldham
Some of these sites have special plants and animals which need a particular type of management to ensure that they can survive. In March 2006 4 Dexter cattle were introduced to Liss Meadow to graze and improve the biodiversity value of the site. The cattle will continue to graze the site at different times of the year until the best grazing regime is in place.
EHDC priorities
The Council's Protecting the Environment Panel met on 8th March 2007 to agree the programme for the production of the management plans for the Council owned sites. The priorities are:
- to continue to support young people's understanding about the farming industry through the Sparsholt College based charity, Hampshire Country Learning
- to support Hampshire Fare who are based at Hampshire County Council, for the promotion of local food and produce
- to work with both the farming community and planning department.
East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
50% of East Hampshire is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The council works in partnership with other agencies for the protection and enhancement of the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The South Downs Joint Committee oversees the management of the South Downs as an interim organisation until a decision is made about the South Downs as a possible National Park area.
Find out more about the possible National Park
Biodiversity
Work is being carried out on the East Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan. The consultation process closed on 8th February 2008. The plan should be completed by the summer of 2008.
Who's responsible for Rights of Way?
Find out more about protecting the countryside