2021 – 3 November HLS minutes

All Members present

OV is Chairman of the VGS Management Committee.

AB declared an interest in all Wetland Restoration projects because of the NPA’s responsibilities as local planning authority.

CL is a member of the VGS and a committee member of the CDA.

The Audited Accounts for 2020 have been posted to the HLS Website.

The board were supplied with the finalised Cycle Counters report that summarised the outcomes from the project. CL noted that off road cycling was an ongoing CDA discussion. JK commented that this report would feed into the RMS project. OV to forward the report to the Verderers and RMS for their information. Action OV

The board welcomed Craig Harrison who as joined as Forest Management Director and Deputy Surveyor for South District following Bruce Rothnie’s retirement.

A new Habitat Restoration Officer has been appointed. Lorna Bailey-Towler will start her role in early November, OV and AB supported the new officer being mentored by Sarah Oakley for the first year to assist in the delivery of habitat restorations.

Terrestrial Restoration

Ridge & Furrow Removal and Stump Shearing

The season started in early September and good progress has been made. Full ridge and furrow and stump removal was completed at Marchwood and Dibden and stump shearing work was completed at Longdown. Additional stump shearing is planned for Long Beech, Kings Garn and Knightwood. Stump shearing work was also completed at Turf Hill on the area with potential archaeology, methods were discussed and agreed with the NPA Archaeologist. A site visit has been arranged in November with the Verderers to inspect the work. Planned work at Dances Arch is on hold pending a survey for unexploded ordnance. (Post meeting note: this site visit was postponed and is rescheduled for Friday 14^th Jan)

Rhododendron Management

A large programme of foliar spraying has been completed this summer. Sites included Little Wootton, Horseshoe Bottom, Fletchers Thorns, Holmsley, Burley, Highland Water, Islands Thorns and Bramshaw. Planning and preparation are underway for the cut and burn programme that will follow over the winter months, starting in the south of the forest. A new survey is planned to assess the current distribution of Rhododendron across the open forest (previous surveys were carried out in 2013 and 2017).

Lost Lawns

The planned restoration in Tantany Wood is scheduled for Winter 2021/22. A review of Neil Sanderson’s “Lost Lawns” report is to be carried out this winter with new sites planned for consultation in spring 2022.

and Fort Bog. Neil Sanderson’s latest survey of these areas reported good results. Further work to clear collapsed Willow is planned for winter 2022/23.

Bracken Management

The bracken forage harvesting programme started in September with 61ha on 49 sites planned for delivery by the end of October. JT requested the amount covered by HLS be stated. No bracken spraying was done on the open forest in summer 2021 due to the restrictions on using Asulam. Natural England reports that an alternative herbicide is being trialled but is unlikely to be ready for use in summer 2022.

CL put forward a proposal for the board to consider the merits of purchasing a smaller machine to cover the verges and difficult to reach sites. CL offered to supply a list of sites identified. JT had concerns on such a large purchase with annual roll over status. AB proposed the possibility of using a contractor with the appropriate machinery on a temporary contract. CL and MP to discuss details and report at next meeting.

Holly Pollarding

Up to 6 sites identified as “urgent priority” or “priority” by the N.Sanderson report will have under storey Holly treated under the HLS project to benefit Epiphytic Lichens over the coming winter.

CL asked if any new pollarding sites were planned? JT said the CDA would be welcomed to suggest areas for trial.

Verge Restoration

The Verge Restoration Officer focuses primarily on education and engagement with visitors and locals. Under the HLS project further measures are being planned or implemented at in excess of 20 sites during autumn/winter 2021/22. CL had concerns with the verge protection work at Emery Down and requested JK ask the VRO to revisit the site. CL also asked if the scrub regeneration could be cleared around installed dragons teeth. MP will organise clearance. Action MP

Wetland Restoration

Urgent enhancement work was completed at Long Beech Mire and Ocknell Mire.

New Forest Freshwater and Wetlands Restoration Forum (FWRF)

Footprint Ecology finalised the Evidence and Monitoring plan, which was commissioned by Natural England; it is now being reviewed by NE specialists. Footprint Ecology have been appointed to work with the forum to facilitate the development of a Restoration Plan and a Communications Strategy. They are

The extended Riverfly programme captures data about pollution-sensitive freshwater invertebrates to monitor water quality. Monthly surveys are usually carried out from April to October with the help of citizen science monitoring volunteers.

Commissioned surveys of post restoration fish and freshwater invertebrates from four previously restored sites was completed in September. A written report summarising the results is due by the end of the year.

The HLS website will be updated with highlights from the reports.

AB had received a request from FFG to join the HLS website as they do not have their own site. The HLS website has not got the functionality to support this request.

Species Monitoring

The postponed Snipe survey was completed in June and the report is due to be finalised by the end of the year. This was an element of the repeat breeding waders survey (curlew, lapwing and redshank surveys already done).

Southern Damselfly report is being finalised and due to be delivered at the end of the year.

A programme of vegetation monitoring at 4 new ridge and furrow sites commenced this summer to monitor how sites respond after restoration from commercial forestry to open habitats.

The report covered updates on recent communication projects including Net Zero with Nature week, COP26 and NZWN programme, updates to the HLS website, the HLS roll over in the NPA’s Annual review. The team filmed Agister Maton and the building process of the newly rebuilt pound at Furzey Lodge. This will be published soon, highlighting how the HLS supports commoning. A new education newsletter has been designed to target education providers. The take up for school visits supported by the HLS has been very good since September. Upcoming comms projects include a Verges animation focusing on the importance of verges, also a release about the benefits of Holly pollarding for certain lichens, Bracken harvesting and the Awakening festival in February.

The board studied the report supplied on the work completed in the last quarters by Catherine Chatters and her team of volunteers. This included the control and monitoring of Himalayan Balsam, Pitcher Plants and Golden Club. Recording and monitoring of Cotoneaster and Gaultheria. Also, the control of various non-native

and furrow sites and on verge restoration and bracken removal. It was also reported that the final sign off from Cambridge was still needed before the final administration to release the LiDAR to Archaeology Data Service can be completed. The board will be updated as soon as this progresses. Ongoing work for the team includes processing the winter 2019/2020 survey data and concluding the Heritage mapping surveys.

The Archaeology team presented the board with three proposals for future 2021/22 projects.

Project 1 is an HLS New Forest Heritage map to bring together all known and available heritage information in more detail than available on the HER.

Project 2 An HLS Atlas of the New Forest’s Archaeology: The New Forest through time. This project aims to produce an engaging, information and illustrated digital publication exploring the rich heritage of the New Forest through the historical periods.

Project 3 The legacy of War on the Forest. A project that seeks to complete a more complete record of the extent of 20^th century-built heritage in the New Forest combining existing datasets with new volunteer led survey.

The board gave its approval to the funding of Project 1 (£1000) and project 3 (£500) with the condition that the funding only covered areas included in the HLS.

More information was requested by the board on Project 2 as to how much could be attributed directly to the HLS. AB to report back to the next meeting with more details from the Archaeology team. Action AB

JT reported that the HLS rollover has had Ministerial sign off.

Schemes that have already rolled over and which continue to meet the criteria will be rolled over again this year. The only formal correspondence HLS customers with expiring agreements will receive from RPA is either a letter offering them an extension or a letter confirming they are not suitable for extension. TW to keep an eye out for the notification as there is a time period on acceptance.

Future Scheme Update

Landscape Recovery Pilot, this is not the same as the Foundation for Common Land

Expression of Interest for a Landscape Recovery Test and Trial

Eligibility - sites between 500 to 5,000 connected hectares

Themes of pilot

1. Recovering and restoring England’s threatened native species: birds and insects.
2. Restoring England’s streams and rivers: improving water quality, biodiversity and adapting to climate change.

Meeting closed 12.30

DATES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS 2022

Thursday 13^th January – 9.30am Queens House

Thursday 28^th April – 9.30am Queens House

Wednesday 6^th July – 9.30am Queens House

Wednesday 5^th October – 9.30am Queens House