Pam Rumfitt, Chairman of the Friends of Studham Common, responds to the charge that  the Common is over-managed . . .

How the Common has developed

Right up until the 1930’s, Studham Common was used for livestock grazing, which controlled the growth of invasive plants like bracken, blackthorn and brambles.  Villagers also cut the gorse (known then as furze) as fuel for their bread ovens.

But people and livestock were not the only ones to benefit.  For grazing allowed a greater variety of wild plants to flourish, while furze cutting gave the gorse bushes a new lease of life, and brought light and air to surrounding plant life.   

During the Second World War, Middle and East Commons were ploughed up for arable crops.  This was a terrible loss in wildlife terms, for this area, known as ‘clay-with flints’ grassland, is now a relatively rare habitat, with an unusual diversity of plant life.

Most of West Common escaped the plough, because of unsuitable soil and terrain.  Even so, its character was changed drastically by the absence of grazing and the loss of rabbits in the myxomatosis epidemic in the 1950s.  Oak and other trees and bushes such as blackthorn and hawthorn became established, along with brambles and bracken that rapidly swallowed up large areas of the Common, including footpaths and clearings.

Invasive plants like bracken and bramble quickly take over if left unchecked

 

Managing the Common today

Now we are trying to reverse the loss of the Common’s original flora and fauna.  We aim to manage the rich mosaic of habitats on the Common – scrub, hedgerows, woodland and meadows - to best support its wildlife and to keep it beautiful and accessible for everyone.

The Common has a rich mosaic of habitats – the most rare and valuable being its grasslands

The meadow flowers and grasses are a wonderful sight in summer once more and they support a number of nesting birds, especially the skylark, as well as butterflies and a wide variety of insect and animal life.

Human volunteers – the Friends of Studham Common – have replaced animals in keeping the ‘Triffids’ at bay.  But in case you think that all we do is ‘slash and burn’, here’s a sample of other activities:

 

The good news is that careful management since the 1960s has encouraged the return of large numbers of indigenous plants to Middle and East Commons, including – hooray! – several varieties of orchid.  

• restoration of the southern boundary of East and Middle Commons. This has reclaimed lost grassland and enabled us to plant hundreds of saplings to fill the gaps in the ancient hedgerows, which provide vital habitats and ‘safe corridors’ for wildlife.

The rare Green Winged Orchid

• nesting boxes put up for dormice and a variety of birds, including owls.
• restoration and maintenance of the overgrown bridlepath on West Common (Studham’s Forth Bridge)
• ‘walks and talks’ focusing on wildlife such as bats, dormice and fung.
• a project to improve disabled access on to the Commons – work in progress.
• leaflets and information panels telling people about the Common and its wildlife.

Guided by the experts

We work to an Annual Work Plan, which forms part of the five-year Management Plan for the Common drawn up by the owners, South Bedfordshire District Council, with the help of  conservation experts.  The Council have appointed the Greensand Trust to manage the Common and to advise and support us in all that we do, including participation in our monthly work parties.   We also have regular contacts with other conservationists from Bedfordshire County Council, the Chilterns Conservation Board and others.

 

Tell us what you think!

·   We welcome your views and warmly invite you to our next Annual Meeting in Spring 2008, when Management of the Common will be the main theme.  There will be a chance for everyone to have their say.

·   Better still, join the debate now  You can email me:
We will be pleased to include your contribution
on this website.

·   And even better still, come and join us any time!  For details of our monthly work parties, see the Link, parish noticeboards or this website.  The next one is on Saturday October 20th – meet at the War Memorial at 10am