Natural England - Restoration of Ravensgate Common to benefit local people and wildlife
Restoration of Ravensgate Common to benefit local people and wildlife
2 February 2010
The completion of restoration work on Ravensgate Common will allow many to once again enjoy a truly spectacular part of Gloucestershire. The common known locally as Wistley Hill, is a unique area of grassland lying within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty nationally important for its wildflowers, butterflies and ancient woodland habitat.
While many other commons across the Cotswolds have over the years already benefited from similar restoration, work on Ravensgate was delayed in part because no owner could be identified take a management lead. This situation resulted in an important wildlife site suffering serious neglect over the last 50 years. Invasive species and scrub started to dominate key indigenous plants such as Cowslip and Devil’s Bit Scabious, threatening the localised extinction of rare butterfly species which depend on these food sources. However, an innovative partnership between Gloucestershire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), Natural England, Butterfly Conservation and local people found a solution to what could have become an intractable problem.
Jenny Phelps of Gloucestershire FWAG explained: “Ravensgate really is the one that almost got away. However, a new partnership has secured a sustainable long term management future for the common. The approach we took enabled the local community to be the custodians of their local environment allowing them to protect the place they love. The knowledge of local farmers and butterfly specialists will be crucial in helping to restore a special place to its former glory. We have witnessed good will turn into practical action and the results on the ground are starting to speak for themselves.”
Initially, Gloucestershire FWAG set up the Ravensgate Hill Management Group which agreed the common should enter into an Environmental Stewardship agreement hosted by Chatcombe Estate, together with local commons rights holders, the Parish Council and supporting organisations. This secured £125,000 of funding for fencing the existing boundaries of the commons and providing a consistent water supply to enable the area to be grazed once again by local cattle.
Nicky Jameson from Natural England said: “Ravensgate Hill is one of the most important butterfly sites in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Funds for the restoration work have been derived from Higher Level Environmental Stewardship, a government 'green farming' scheme that encourages farmers and land managers, through environmental farm payments, to protect and restore some of our most iconic and important landscapes. On the common, the funds have paid for work that has re-established some key wildlife habitats while increasing opportunities for the users of the Cotswold Way National Trial and local communities to access this special site.”
Toti Gifford is one of the farmers who now graze their stock on the common. He said. “The process has benefitted our livestock with additional grazing as well as local contractors who were employed to carry out the work. Personally speaking I now know so much more about wildlife management particularly the needs of our rare butterflies such as the Duke of Burgundy and Marsh Fritillary. I have found it really rewarding be part of the restoration of what was essentially a derelict piece of land and I am convinced that sensitive land management can benefit both commercial farming and wildlife, something I wouldn’t have thought possible before the project started.”
More than £1 million has been allocated to restore and protect a number of commons across Gloucestershire. This will secure these nationally and internationally important wildlife sites for future generations while benefitting the local craftsmen contracted to rebuild dry stone walls as natural boundaries, install water supplies for grazing cattle and resurface stretches of the Cotswold Way National Trail.
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Notes to Editors
1. Restoration of Gloucestershire Commons initiative
With the assistance of Environmental Stewardship funding, common land in Gloucestershire is being restored by Natural England and FWAG in partnership with other organisations and with the support of local communities.
Commons identified in this initiative include;
Cleve Common: which is the largest common in Gloucestershire, is to benefit from £300,000 of funding - secured by Gloucestershire FWAG , Gloucestershire Natural England and the Cleeve Common Board of Conservators - to install a water supply to allow the long term grazing management with cattle.
Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common: where Gloucestershire FWAG is working with Natural England and Cheltenham Borough Council with the principle aim to restore the Cotswold stone wall along the historic boundary of the common which also runs along with Cotswold Way National Trail.
Ravensgate Common: where Gloucestershire FWAG is working closely with the Natural England, Butterfly Conservation and the Ravensgate Hill Management group to bring together local groups to agree a £125,000 capital plan to reintroduce cattle grazing on the nationally important site for butterflies. Eight species with priority status have been recorded on Ravensgate making it an invaluable habitat for our fast declining butterfly populations.
Walmore Commons: an internationally important Ramsar wetland, a Special Protection Area of European importance and a site of Special Scientific Interest of national importance. The Walmore Common and Basin Management Group has been set up by Gloucestershire FWAG to assist Natural England and the Group establish an agreement for more than £50,000 of works to carried out.
2. Higher Level Stewardship
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), the upper tier of the suite of Environmental Stewardship schemes, aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas. A wide range of management options are available, targeted to support key characteristics of the different areas.
Options include:
- Resource protection
- Fallow plots for ground-nesting birds
- Creation of wet grassland areas
- Restoration of traditional water meadows and orchards
- Management of hedgerows
- Ancient trees in arable fields
- Woodlands, parkland and wood pastures
- Protection of the historic environment
- Permissive footpath access and educational access
The HLS scheme is supported by a network of Natural England advisers that assist farming businesses with advice across the region. More information on HLS can be found on the website
3. Natural England
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. It conserves and enhances the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. For more information visit; www.naturalengland.org.uk
4. The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group
The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), a national charity that is the leading provider of independent environmental advice to farmers, landowners and communities, will have a key role in a helping Natural England in delivering a programme of environmental schemes in excess of £1 million to safe guard Gloucestershire's spectacular landscape, biodiversity and fascinating historic environment.
For more information visit www.fwag.org.uk
5. For more details, images and interviews please contact; Martin Gershon from Natural England on 07900 608364 or Jenny Phelps at Gloucestershire FWAG on 07876 687272