2023 – 25 October HLS minutes
Summary
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| Voting Members | ||
|---|---|---|
| Edward Heron | OV | Official Verderer – Verderers of the New Forest (Chairman) |
| Paul Walton | PW | Head of Environment and Rural Economy – New Forest National Park Authority |
| Craig Harrison | DS | Deputy Surveyor – Forestry England |
| Non-Voting Members | ||
| Andrew Parry-Norton | APN | CDA Representative |
| Nicola Brown | NB | Agri-environment Co-ordinator Thames Solent Team – Natural England |
| In Attendance | ||
| Tina Woodley | TW | VGS Administrator |
| Jackie Kelly | JK | HLS Project Manager – Forestry England |
| Mike Pittock | MP | Head of Planning & Environment |
Apologies for absence
Apologies from
- Jenny Thomas - Natural England
- Alison Barnes - New Forest National Park Authority
RESUME
Declarations of interest
OV is Chairman of the VGS Management Committee.
PW declared an interest in all Wetland Restoration projects because of the NPA’s responsibilities as local planning authority.
APN is a member of the VGS and a committee member of the CDA
RESUME
Matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting
The MoA for the extension period is still with the NPA Solicitor awaiting inclusion of comments from FE. PW and TW to follow up on the progress.
OV thanked everyone for their assistance in making the HLS AGM evening a great success with over 100 people attending.
Action
PW & TW
Previously felled timber was cleared from Ravensnest.
A consultation site visit took place in July to review and agree an initial phase of work at Ober Heath to remove mature conifer from Open Forest. Due to red deer in this area, the site is being planned for work to start in August 2024.
Inclosure Restoration Plans; FE is reviewing the completed management plans for Turf Hill / Millersford, Dur Hill, Markway and Slufters to identify priority actions that could be delivered through the HLS programmes. Proposals will be brought to the board in due course. A short presentation was given at the OFAC meeting in October to inform them of the restoration plans and share an outline proposal for Dur Hill.
The following projects are ongoing or in preparation for 23/24:
A rolling programme of work to remove natural regeneration from ‘thrown open’ Inclosures. Seedling pine removal at Knightwood (13.6ha) is complete. Work to clear Western hemlock at Woosons Hill (3 ha) is in progress. Other sites to be worked on this winter include Fawley (31.4 ha), Marchwood (2.1 ha), Dunces Arch (7 ha) and Ravensnest.
Work to clear collapsed willow to benefit slender cottongrass is in progress at Fort Bog (1 ha) and Holmsley (0.6 ha).
Plans are being drawn up to remove trees from wetland sites at Anses Wood and Furzey Lodge.
Ridge & Furrow Removal and Stump Shearing
The following sites are ongoing or in preparation for 2023/24;
Work at Dunces Arch (4.8 ha) is complete, including stump shearing, removal of some ridges and furrows, and some ditch infill to restore hydrology.
Stump shearing is in progress at Ravensnest (7.7 ha).
Planning and preparation underway for restoration work to be done at Turf Hill / Millersford (13.3 ha) and Dur Hill (1.8 ha).
Rhododendron Management
The summer spraying programme is complete. Sites were treated at Cranes Moor, Valesmoor, Verely, Dur Hill, Old House, Common Moor, South Oakley, Aldridge Hill, Ober Heath, Black Knowl, Ferry Knap and Fletchers Thorns.
The New Forest Rhododendron Recording survey closed at the end of August. 44 records are being reviewed which will feed into the work programme.
Planning is underway for the winter cut and burn programme that is due to start in Q3.
OV commented that he would like to see private landowners encouraged to remove Rhododendron to reduce the spread to open forest.
place for at least 5 years to allow time for holly to regenerate around the base and trunk. Proposed sites include Freeworms Hill (south side of Fritham Plain), west side of Ocknell Wood, Seven Holms (west of Slufters), Withybeds Bottom, Bolderwood Hollies, Berry Beeches and Potters Ford. Fencing work was due to start early autumn but has been delayed due to difficulty sourcing chestnut stakes and posts.
Restoration of Wood Pasture & Parkland: Option HC13
Holly Pollarding
This is a rolling programme of work that is treating ‘urgent priority’ and ‘priority’ areas identified in the 2018/19 survey by N. Sanderson. Sites are being selected for treatment this winter and work is due to be carried out in Q4.
Restoration of A & O Woodlands
The majority of felled timber in Woodcrates has been cleared but the contract has been extended to August 2024 because a small amount of timber in areas of wet heath could not be accessed due to ground conditions.
Thinning A & O Plots
Planning and preparation are underway to carry out thinning of old planting area / regeneration pens in A&O woodland at Brook Wood to restore a more natural woodland structure.
Restoration of Species Rich Grassland; Option HK7
Lost Lawns
Felled timber at Anderwood was cleared in the summer.
The lawn restoration at Tantany is in progress. The removal of mature Scots pine within A&O woodland is complete, along with birch removal to open up lawn areas.
Holly cutting to benefit lichens on veteran trees will be carried out in late winter.
Consultation site visits took place in the summer for Balmer Lawn and Stricknage Wood. Agreed works are in progress at Balmer Lawn. Work at Stricknage will be carried out in Q3/Q4.
Verge Restoration
The Verge Restoration Officer continues to have ongoing engagement with residents, visitors and partner organisations, responding to reports of verge parking and requests for advice, and monitoring sites where measures have been installed. Site visits have taken place to inform future work programmes and priorities for the Verge Restoration Project, including a review of informal car parking locations across the Open Forest. A programme of work is being drawn up, using principles outlined
to infill a deep eroding nick point and bed level raise the channel along an Inclosure edge. Temporary fencing will be installed along part of the restoration to help recovery of areas vulnerable to damage from stock poaching.
Consultations for future projects at Penny Moor, Anses Wood, Hawkhill and Furzey Lodge have taken place and proposals submitted to the Verderers Court Committee for consideration. It will be ensured that any restoration proposals align with the principles of wetland restoration developed through the forum, as set out in the draft Restoration Plan. Agreed sites will be programmed for summer 2024.
New Forest Freshwater and Wetlands Restoration Forum (FWRF)
Work is ongoing to finalise the draft Restoration Plan and develop the Communications and Engagement Strategy. An update email is being sent to Forum members in October and the next Forum meeting will be in the new year, date to be confirmed.
Heather Baling
Budget line included to cover the production of heather bales for future wetland restoration projects.
Survey and Monitoring
Specialist Species Surveys
Surveys were carried out this summer of the following species;
- Brown diving Beetle (Agabus brunneus) draft report being finalised.
- New Forest mud beetle (Helophorus laticollis) awaiting draft report.
- Further targeted surveys for six-spotted cranefly (Idiocera sexguttata) draft report received, survey was not fully completed.
- Beaulieu dung beetle (Liothorax niger) awaiting draft report.
- Dartford Warbler – repeat bird survey is complete, draft report being finalised.
- Nightjar – repeat bird survey is complete, draft report being finalised.
- Bats – Budget line included to cover the costs of surveys if they are required before tree felling.
Botanical Survey – Ridge & Furrow Sites
Awaiting draft report from the first post-restoration survey carried out at Matley Ridge this summer. Post-restoration surveys for Turf Hill, Millersford and Dunces Arch are planned for summer 2024.
data from various completed survey reports into a single succinct report for each site. The report will describe the site at 5+ years after restoration in the context of habitats present and relevant measures of success.
Fixed point photography
A budget line has been added to cover consumables for camera equipment.
Water Hydrology
The use of remote telemetry units has been piloted to measure water level and temperature, with units installed through the Latchmore catchment and Dockens Water. The units are being retrieved and the collected data reviewed.
Riverfly Partnership
The data collected by the citizen science volunteers from the two Riverfly sites (Wootton and Millersford) from April to October is being reviewed.
VGS update
TW updated the board on the latest VGS spends illustrated on the Programme Register.
RESUME
Engagement and Interpretation Officer written update
The board studied the report from the E&I Officer – this included feedback from the HLS stand at the New Forest Show and the success of the HLS AGM. Upcoming projects include consolidating the verge messaging into one leaflet and an associated animation. Also, content regarding the importance of heathlands and “right tree, right place” and the history behind the introduction of non-native plant species into the New Forest over the last century. The Terrestrial pages on the HLS website are also in the process of being updated.
The board requested TW to look back at the previous minutes for details on proposals for NPA communications to see if it details what is expected from NPA and FE. TW to arrange a communications strategy meeting with FE and NPA staff.
RESUME
Action
TW
Action
TW
HIWWT written update
The report outlining the relevant activities of the New Forest Non-native Plants Project for the last quarter was studied by the board. This included the recording of invasive non-native plants, monitoring the control of invasive non-native plants, practical work
RESUME
with relevant good practices and HLS objectives.
Future New Forest Environmental Stewardship Scheme update
NB gave an update on how the PA2 applications are being run. There is no upper limit on cost but directly related to what is delivered. TW reported that the RPA were having difficulty processing the Verderers application due to not being able to receive the files containing the large number of field parcels. NE has received the initial forms from the RPA. NB has agreed to pass the field numbers to the RPA via NE. The PA2 should cover the issue of the unique scale and nature of the New Forest. The next Verderers Court will discuss the financial proof requested by the RPA to support the PA2 Feasibility study. NB confirmed that a scheme or amalgamation of schemes, can be entered into (if suitable) whilst the PA2 study is still running. We are not constrained to the completion of the study’s time scale. Ongoing PA2 work will help inform future scheme needs.
OV requested a visit be arranged from NE area staff involved in assessing future schemes for the New Forest to familiarise those involved with the uniqueness of the New Forest.
HLS Board members were all supportive of future support schemes that secure the full suite of activity needed to enhance and maintain the forest (so support required from a range of stakeholders)
Discussions were held on the option of Landscape Recovery as a future scheme. Landscape Recovery Scheme appears a good fit with the unique values and needs of the Forest, but some key areas of detail lacking e.g. extent of eligibility & green finance expectations. More clarity from Defra/NE/RPA would be welcome. CS offer is clearer but less flexible
NB informed the board that you could enter into a development stage of LR without having to take up the scheme and that many of the concerns regarding any need for private finance would be covered by the development phase. A number of agreements are due to come out of development over the next six months and these can be monitored to see what Landscape Recovery looks like and how it may work for the New Forest. LR has the flexibility of being able to have a CS agreement under LR and transitioning into the LR. Provided there is synergy between them, there could be a suite of support mechanisms in place in future
The OV questioned if there was enough time between receiving the application pack and dates for submitting the application for a scheme of this size. NB commented that there will be rolling start dates to assist with this issue
RESUME
Action
NB
Action
TW & NB
HLS & Curlews in the New Forest
The board received a request from GWCT who have been undertaking a programme of research on curlews that breed in the New Forest. The study is drawing to a close and the GWCT are looking into the possibility of HLS funding to be able to continue with their research. The board asked TW to reply to Mike Short and request more information on the potential costs and details of the research.
Meeting closed 11.30 a.m.
Dates for future meetings 2024
- Wednesday January 31st – 9.30 Kings House
- Wednesday April 24th – 9.30 Kings House
- Wednesday August 14th - 9.30 Kings House
- Wednesday October 30th - 9.30 Kings House
| Delegated Actions to | ||
|---|---|---|
| Paul Walton | PW | Head of Environment and Rural Economy - NFNPA |
| Tina Woodley | TW | VGS Administrator |
| Nicola Brown | NB | Agri-environment Co-ordinator – Natural England |
Edward Heron
Official Verderer
Action
TW
