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
- Rotherlands (Local Nature Reserve)
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. Cattle have continued to graze there since. The site is being reviewed during 2011 in order to establish the best future use in order to benefit wildlife.
Rose, Briggs and Nightingale Bridges on the Liss Railway walk have all been restored, thanks to support from the RDPE LEADER Programme, South Downs Joint Committee and EHDC funds. The refurbished of the bridges should ensure they last in excess of 200 years as a legacy to the community and acknowledgement of the value of this valuable LNR. Constructed in local Oak using traditional jointing and construction techniques, the bridge design reflect the history of this walk as it once was a military railway line carrying soldiers from the Liss mainline station to Longmoor training camp.
EHDC priorities
The Council has identified priority areas under the Natural Environment and Rural Community Act(NERC) 2006 it wishes to concentrate its resources on which include:
- ecological advice and support for planning
- implementation of the East Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan
- support for young people's understanding about farming through the Country Trust (Hampshire) based at Sparsholt College.
- support for Hampshire Fare, at Hampshire County Council, for the promotion of local food and produce
- work with both the farming community and planning department.
- managing its property assets for the benefit of wildlife and the local community and visitors.
East Hampshire - South Downs National Park
Since 1st April 2011, 57% of the East Hampshire District has formed part of the South Downs National Park, a linear National Park which follows the chalk ridge from Winchester, Hampshire to Eastbourne in Sussex. 27% of the East Hampshire District Council population will be within the SDNP area.
Biodiversity
The Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) 2009-2019 was approved by East Hampshire District Council’s Cabinet on 18th March 2009. The BAP outlines the actions needed to protect and enhance the local environment in East Hampshire. It provides lots of useful information about species and habitats and includes useful names and addresses of organisations that can help.
The success of the BAP will rely on the partners who have signed up to implement the actions listed in section 3. A huge debt of thanks is extended to all involved. Now comes the action! We look forward to hearing about the successes.
Please contact Martin Healey 01730 234386 or martin.healey@easthants.gov.uk if you wish to discuss the implementation of the plan. The actions and achievements will be reviewed every year.
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