2024 16 September HLS minutes

Quarter 1 updates for the New Forest Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Scheme and the Verderers’ Grazing Scheme (VGS) cover spending, project delivery, and partner reports. By 30 June 2024, total planned spend was about £2.28m and actual spend about £0.56m, creating a large in-year underspend; VGS spending to date was about £0.43m. Habitat restoration work reported includes starting mature conifer clearance at Ober Heath, rhododendron summer spraying, minor verge protection works, and several wetland restorations completed or underway (including Anses Wood, Ober Water, Shirley Holms, and Penny Moor). Monitoring includes woodlark surveying, botanical surveys on wetland and heath sites, fixed-point photography improvements, and riverfly citizen science surveys. Other updates cover communications campaigns and engagement metrics, invasive non-native plant control activities, archaeology support for restoration works, and land advice support for commoners and backup grazing.