To Explore, Enjoy and Enhance

Friends of Studham Common

A public meeting was held on 14th November 2009, to enable those with concerns about the manner in which Studham Common is being managed to air their views  and to hear from the experts.

The meeting had been called in response to a petition which had been sent to the Parish Council by a number of villagers.  FOSC had welcomed this opportunity to allay concerns and explain the rationale underlying the work they do. Those present were: Des Salmon - Chairman of Studham Parish Council and of the meeting, Paul Burgess - Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC), Steve Halton - CBC, John Creasey - Greensand Trust, Pam Rumfitt - Chair of Friends of Studham Common (FOSC), Geoff Shute - Studham Parish Councillor and Vice-Chairman of FOSC and approximately 60 members of the public, including 3 signatories of the petition.

 

The Chairman introduced the main speakers and outlined the recent history of the Common and the way in which it is currently managed. The Common is owned by Central Bedfordshire Council and maintained in line with a Management Plan drawn up by CBC and the Greensand Trust and approved by CBC. Much of the physical work is undertaken by FOSC guided by the rationale underpinning the Plan. FOSC is independent and is not run by the Parish Council.

 

One petitioner said he supported the work of FOSC but he had added his name to the petition because he was concerned about what was being done to one specific area – the hedgerow on the western edge of Middle Common. Another noted that actually the petition had not been signed and that few of the named people were at the meeting.

 

Paul Burgess briefly described how CBC takes responsibility for commons in the area. All followed Management Plans which did not prescribe a right or wrong way but aimed to be flexible and adaptable.

 

Steve Halton drew attention to the unique qualities of Chilterns commons – being acid soil overlying chalk. This soil mix supports an unusually diverse flora. All commons needed human intervention otherwise they would revert to forest. In the past this maintenance had often been achieved by grazing, but commons were always changing. The main point to understand was that everything was inter-related and every change had consequences. The overall aim was to achieve a mosaic of many patterns of growth and habitat giving rise to maximum bio-diversity.  Such a mosaic was only achievable by management. For example, gorse is being actively encouraged and new hedgerows are being planted; hedgerows being very important as food sources and safe corridors for mammals and birds. The late grass cut on East and Middle Commons had encouraged skylarks. Bird, dormouse and bat nesting boxes had been erected. As a result of this work there were now over 40 examples of

a rare orchid and an observed increase in the dormouse population on the Common.  Areas of invasive growth had been cleared but nobody wants to remove all bracken and brambles, which have a value as part of the mosaic.

 

John Creasey explained his role in managing the Common on behalf of CBC.  He said the Greensand Trust had access to a number of ecologists and other expertise within CBC and the Chilterns Conservation Board. The work of the FOSC volunteers replaces that of grazing animals! By cutting, raking and removing cut vegetation the soil is denied nutrition so that finer grasses and a range of wild flowers can thrive. Bluebells have reappeared in places. The new hedges with their varied species will provide a continuous food supply throughout the season. The Greensand Trust and FOSC work to a set of guidelines.

 

The audience were then invited to ask questions.

A questioner said he supported the work of FOSC in achieving “a wonderful balance of habitats for flora and fauna” and in promoting the provision of wheelchair access.  However, he was worried about “accidental” damage to parts of the Common such as a hedgerow  which is a prime bird habitat. He thought there had been enough large-scale clearance. He felt the Common truly belonged to Studham – not the Council. The Chair said that the Council was the formal owner but this did not preclude ‘ownership’ in the wider sense, by residents.

 

Another questioner felt that clearance had been too “brutal” at times. Bracken could form a useful sound barrier from passing traffic. She said she had not seen a Management Plan. Management should recognise the needs of people as well as wildlife. Another asked if all bracken would be removed from West Common.

 

Answer: Bracken clearance, in terms of area, had finished. As regards communication; there had been a major consultation with residents in 2001 when the first Management Plan was being written. There was also the FOSC Annual Meeting to which everyone was invited. FOSC was very anxious to hear everyone’s views and when the current update was ready FOSC hoped a consultation similar to that of 2001 would be possible. The intended activity of each month’s work party could be published in the Newsletter and the FOSC website. It was again pointed out that very few of the petitioners had turned up to be informed. They were free to attend any work party and ask questions.

 

There was a question about an outbreak of ragwort   Answer: This had been noted and its control was under discussion. It was not widespread at present. While dangerous to horses if eaten, it also had a positive aspect, being a food source for rare insects.

 

A question about hedge-cutting in the bird nesting season .Answer: The cutting of roadside hedges was the responsibility of the Highways Department whose main concern was road safety. Those in CBC involved in the environment would exert influence to try to limit cutting at critical times. The Higher Level Stewardship scheme, in which CBC and FOSC hoped to participate, starting in 2010,  would also provide funding which could offer a greater measure of local control. Local farmers would also be encouraged to participate.

  

An audience member asked if one of the petitioners could explain what they meant by ‘cultivation’ and ‘loss of flora and fauna’ in the petition. There was no answer.

 

Concern was expressed about a willow tree which had been cut down on the SE corner of West Common. This had been home to yellowhammers which were now absent from the area. Answer: The tree had been causing an outbreak of willow seedlings across Middle and East Commons which were damaging to the quality of the grasslands and difficult to eradicate. The diminution in the number of yellow-hammers might, in part, be attributed to the fact that nationally their population had dropped by half. Their former food source, wheat stubble, was now ploughed in by farmers.

 

An audience member asked if the Green Pennant Award was merely a ‘box-ticking’ exercise. Answer: No. It consisted of a range of penetrating questions and a site visit by a judge with a key interest in environmentally sound management. The judge had complimented FOSC on the work done and had added some very useful suggestions. Anyone was welcome to read his report, available from Pam Rumfitt.

 

During the meeting many comments about bracken clearance were made. Generally opinion was against more clearance. Steve Halton agreed bracken can be useful though only a few species use it for food or cover, while grassland fosters more species. It was not the intention to clear all bracken. The aim was to achieve a balance of habitats. Pam Rumfitt said that after clearance an area could look a bit like parkland for a time because repeated mowing is needed to stop bracken re-growth, but later taller grasses and wild flowers will grow. A FOSC member added that bluebells had appeared where bracken had been cleared while a resident recalled the fun her children had had playing amongst the bracken. On a show of hands the majority favoured not clearing any more.

 

Other comments made included: The sycamore trees on SW corner of West Common needed clearing/thinning (This was already planned)  Large areas of copse with narrow paths should be left –especially for children. Clearance of blackthorn on W end of West Common should be gradual- say over 10 years, (rather than the 4 years currently planned). Gorse was being encouraged by trimming and replanting, though it was slow to re-generate.

 

In conclusion Paul Burgess said that in devising the new Management Plan his aim was to take all advice and seek consensus. While it may not please everyone he assured the meeting that it would be flexible and adaptable.

 

Pam Rumfitt expressed her appreciation at hearing the wide range of views. She urged people:
 

· to get in touch with her or any member of the FOSC committee if they had concerns

· to put their names etc down to receive information including the Newsletter

· to look at a copy of the present Management Plan (available through her)

· to suggest imaginative ways in which FOSC could communicate with residents

· to come to the Annual Meeting     ……..and finally

· to come along to one of the work parties

 

The Chair congratulated the people who had provided and displayed the historic photographs and urged anyone who had more photographs to get in touch with Charles Baker especially if they could put a date to them  He finished by thanking all participants and those who had  helped in setting up and running the meeting.

 

APPENDIX giving an outline of the Petitioners’ concerns

 

· too much vegetation cut back and turned into mown grassland

· changing from Common to parkland

· loss of ground cover for wildlife

· loss of flora and fauna

· do not want common cultivated

 

Petitioners’ questions:

 

Is the method of managing the commons correct and beneficial to residents and the village overall?

 

Is it what the residents wish?

.

 

To download a pdf of the following report (for ease of printing), please click here>