Brownhills Common Site of Special Scientific Interest Heathland Restoration

Park Holland Holland

Common

Brownhills The The Parade

Watling Street A5

Chester

Road North Office. Brownhills

the Ordnance Survey mapping with the the with mapping Survey Ordnance the 100019529 Stationery Majesty's Her of Controller the on of

Brownhills Common Brownhills from Reproduced permissi (c) Crown Copyright and database rights 2011 rights database and Copyright Crown (c) Survey Ordnance BrownhillsWest

N 50 metres 1. Figure 2 Drop-In Events

This booklet contains information about Natural England and Walsall Council’s proposals for the appropriate management and maintenance of Brownhills Common Site of Special Scientific Interest, with the purpose of restoring it to its natural habitat of lowland heathland by 2022.

You can give us your views on the heathland restoration by completing the questionnaire included in this booklet or online at www.walsall.gov.uk/brownhills_common_nature_reserve.htm or come and talk to us at one of the drop in events listed below:

Wednesday 24th July, 1.00pm to 4.00pm Holland Park car park, The Parade

Thursday 25th July, 10.00am to 1.00pm Brownhills Library, Park View Centre

Wednesday 31st July, 10.30am to 4.00pm Brownhills Fun Day, Holland Park

Tuesday 6th August, 10.00am to 2.00pm Environment Day, Walsall Arboretum

Wednesday 7th August, 12.00pm to 2.30pm Children’s Play Day, Brownhills Children’s Centre, Great Charles Street

Saturday 10th August, 11.00am to 4.00pm Community Fun Day, Brownhills Activity Centre, Chester Road North

Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th August, 10.00am to 4.00pm Walsall Town Show, Walsall Arboretum

The times and venues above may be subject to change. Please refer to the Brownhills Common website for current information www.walsall.gov.uk/brownhills_common_nature_reserve.htm.

The information and consultation period lasts until 14th August 2013, with views being used to help inform aspects of the management of Brownhills Common.

Front Cover: Brownhills Common © Colin Manning, Walsall Council

3 Brownhills Common Site of Special Scientific Interest Heathland Restoration

Introduction Background Brownhills Common is registered Brownhills Common is part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its wet and dry common land and comes under the lowland heath, fens and standing open water habitats. responsibility of Walsall Council. These habitats support special types of plants and Brownhills Common also forms part of the Chasewater animals, many of which cannot survive elsewhere. and Southern Staffordshire Coalfield Heaths Site of Special Scientific Interest, which extends northwards Lowland heathland is now incredibly rare. Over 80% into Staffordshire. This means that Walsall Council has has been lost since 1800 and the UK holds over 20% a legal obligation under the Wildlife and Countryside of the world total, with Walsall Borough containing the Act to manage the area appropriately. most across the Black Country.

Management work over the next ten years will include removing two small conifer plantations and restoring these areas to lowland heathla nd, removing up to 30% of the trees from other conifer plantations and managing areas of broadleaved woodland, lowland heathland and grasslands.

We are keen to receive your views on the timing of the management work and location of replacement tree planting.

We are also proposing to establish a Friends of Brownhills Common group of local people who would like to contribute towards the management of area.

This booklet has been produced and a series of Figure 2. White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) drop-in events (see page 3) are being held to raise on Heather © Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council awareness of the ongoing management work. In 2010, an assessment by Natural England found Please read the information provided in this booklet, Brownhills Common to be ‘unfavourable recovering’: which is also available on the Council’s website, and unfavourable because of the high scrub and woodland give us your views by: cover, with more intensive management needed, but recovering because management is deliverable. • Meeting us at one of the drop-in events • Completing the questionnaire at the Walsall Council entered into a Higher Level back of this booklet or online at Stewardship agreement with Natural England in www.walsall.gov.uk/brownhills_common_ October 2012, which will support management of the nature_reserve.htm site for the next decade. • E-mailing [email protected] With Natural England and the Forestry Commission we Thank you. are preparing a management plan that will help inform the work to be undertaken across the area. Walsall Countryside Services Undertaking this work would satisfy Walsall Council’s legal obligations and result in the SSSI achieving favourable condition by 2022.

4 Brownhills Common, Site of Special Scientific Interest Brownhills Common is a special place – for wildlife and The SSSI condition assessment at the time of the people. It forms part of the Chasewater and Southern re notification found Brownhills Common to be Staffordshire Coalfield Heaths Site of Special Scientific ‘unfavourable recovering’: Interest (SSSI), which was re notified in December • ‘Unfavourable’ because of the high scrub and 2010 (see Figure 3). woodland cover (c37%), with more intensive The importance of the SSSI is enhanced by its management needed strategic location in providing an ecological link • ‘Recovering’ because the area is in a between nationally important heaths of Cannock stewardship agreement and management to Chase and Sutton Park tackle these concerns is deliverable. Figure 3. Chasewater and Southern Staffordshire Coalfield Heaths SSSI (outlined in (Source: blue). WebMap, Natural England. Ordnance Survey 100022861)

The habitats present on Brownhills Common that have Stewardship Agreements made the site worthy of being designated a SSSI are: From 2002 to 2012, Brownhills Common was under • Dry heathland: Common Heather (Calluna a Countryside Stewardship scheme between Walsall vulgaris) & Wavy Hair grass (Deschampsia Council and Natural England. Work included heathland flexuosa) heath and Common Heather (Calluna creation and management, scrub clearance and vulgaris) & Western Gorse (Ulex gallii) heath management of the conifer plantations. • Wet heathland: Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) Walsall Council and Natural England agreed a ten & Low Bog-moss (Sphagnum compactum) heath year Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme in 2012. • Acidic fen wetlands: Common Cotton-grass This includes more heathland management, scrub clearance and management of areas of broadleaved (Eriophorum angustifolium) bog pool and Star and conifer woodland i.e. a continuation of the Sedge (Carex echinata) and Feathery Bog- previous work. Natural England and Walsall Council moss / Cow horn Bog-moss (Sphagnum are funding this work. recurvum / auriculatum) mire The main purpose of the HLS agreement is to restore Cannock Chase District Council, Lichfield District Council the heathland areas to favourable condition by 2022, if and Staffordshire County Council are also carrying out not sooner. similar management work on their parts of the SSSI.

5 Lowland Heathland Heathland Wildlife Lowland heathland is a broadly open landscape on Lowland heathland supports special types of plants acidic mineral and shallow peat soil, with plants such and animals (see back cover pages), many of which as heathers and gorses. cannot survive elsewhere. Areas of heathland in good condition consist of these Brownhills Common has three species of heather (Bell plants of varying heights and structures with over 25% Heather, Common Heather and Cross-leaved Heath) cover, plus at least some of the following features: and other shrubs like Bilberry, Broom and European scattered and clumped trees and scrub (less than 15% and Western Gorse. Cutting different areas each year cover), Bracken, bare ground, lichens, grassland, wet varies the age structure. wThis allows lichens, mosses heaths, bogs and open waters. and other plants, plus beetles, mining bees and other Heathland is a dynamic habitat, undergoing significant invertebrates to colonize the bare ground. In contrast, changes and through different stages, from bare ground older vegetation provides nest sites for birds such as and grass to mature, dense heath – a process called Common Whitethroat, Linnet and Skylark. ‘succession’. Different successional stages are often The heathland also provides opportunities for rare and present together on a site. threatened reptiles such as Common Lizard and Slow Lowland heathland is now incredibly rare. Over 80% worm, and amphibians like Great Crested Newt. has been lost since 1800 and mostly since 1950 Herds of Red Deer roam freely across heathlands and to agriculture, afforestation, development and lack woodlands in south Staffordshire and north Walsall, of management leading to the establishment of with small groups often seen on Brownhills Common. woodland. The UK holds over 20% of the world total. Just 198ha of lowland heathland remain in Birmingham and the Black Country, with Walsall Borough containing the most across the Black Country. Walsall Countryside Services have successfully created and managed areas of heathland on Brownhills Common, Barr Beacon, Pelsall North Common and Shire Oak Park. At the time of the SSSI re-notification, heathland habitats (including acidic grassland) covered 12.2 ha of Brownhills Common. The remaining 20.5ha were made up of woodland (15.2ha) and other habitats (5.3ha) e.g. Bramble, grassland, scrub, weedy areas and paths.

Biodiversity Action Plans Figure 4. Red Deer at Brownhills Common The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (1994) and UK © Colin Manning, Walsall Council Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework (2012) were published Red Deer are herbivorous, feeding on grasses, shrubs in response to the Convention on Biological Diversity1 and tree shoots. Our largest native land animal, stags and European Union Biodiversity Strategy (2011). (males) stand up to 135cm (53 inches) at the shoulder The Birmingham and Black Country Biodiversity Action and hinds (females) up to 120cm (47 inches). Only (B&BC BAP) was published as the local response to stags have antlers, which start growing each spring. the UK BAP in 2000 – this was revised in 2010. The rut (breeding season) occurs during autumn. In both the UK and B&BC BAPs, lowland heathland is Red Deer can live up to 18 years and face few natural a priority habitat for management and restoration. threats, though Red Foxes occasionally take calves and mothers will defend their young against dogs. Nature Improvement Areas Due to their dense, year-round shade, the conifer In 2012, the UK Government announced 12 Nature plantations offer little growth as food or cover for the Improvement Areas (NIA)2. One of these is the deer. Removing some of the trees and encouraging Birmingham and Black Country Living Landscape NIA more plants will improve them, providing more (B&BC NIA), of which Walsall Council is a partner. vegetation for the deer to feed in on and lay low in. A delivery theme of the B&BC NIA is to restore and link The management work over the next ten years will long-established heathland, to be achieved through the increase the value of Brownhills Common for wildlife, clearance of undesirable vegetation, re-introduction of which in turn will increase opportunities for people to appropriate management and targeted habitat creation. get close to nature.

1 Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and Nagoya Protocol in Japan in 2010. 2 NIAs were proposed in the Natural Environment White Paper (2011) 6 Heathland Restoration We welcome your views regarding these and any other Management Plan options: please see questionnaire on pages 13 and 14. Walsall Council, Natural England and the Forestry • Heathland Commission are preparing a management plan to help If we were not to manage Brownhills Common, but let inform the work to be undertaken across Brownhills trees and shrubs grow on the heathland, it would slowly Common over the next ten years. turn into woodland in a process called ‘succession’. The following management work has been identified: Succession leads to shading out of heathland plants, • Conifer Plantations making the area unsuitable for many of the species that need the open habitat, directly reducing biodiversity. Conifer plantations (see Figure 6) were planted on the Removing some of the trees increases light levels and Common during the mid to late 1950s. However, the trees biodiversity comes flooding back! Heather seeds can are changing the soils, seeding into surrounding heathland survive in the soil for over 75 years and will germinate and causing further deterioration of the heathland habitats. readily when the conditions are right again. Some management of the plantations took place as Therefore, a different area of young trees and scrub part of the previous Countryside Stewardship scheme. will be removed each year to prevent it smothering The remaining 76 trees in plantations 11 and 15 (see heathland plants and developing into woodland. Figures 6 and 7) will be removed and the areas (c0.5ha in total) restored to lowland heathland. This will reconnect Stands of Heather and other heathland plants will be patches of heathland immediately to the north and south, cut occasionally to vary the age structure and reduce thereby allowing larger blocks of heathland to be created. the likelihood of fires. The other 17 plantations will have up to 30% of the trees Individual and groups of mature native broadleaved felled and removed i.e. up to 632 in total (see Table 1 trees will be left. We will check trees for roosting bats and Figures 6 and 8). This will be done in accordance and breeding birds. with standard woodland management practice on a five • Broadleaved woodland to eight year cycle, starting with non-native species e.g. Areas of broadleaved woodland will be managed in Corsican Pine, Lodgepole Pine and European Larch. The accordance with standard woodland management remaining trees will be able to grow on in a healthier and practices. This will include gradual removal of non native more uniform way, increase light levels and encourage species (such as pines, Red Oak and Sycamore) and the ground flora. Heather will be cut and spread around the encouragement of Oak, Rowan, Silver Birch, Hawthorn, edges of the plantations during late autumn, allowing Holly, etc. Ground flora such as Bluebell, Foxglove and seed to fall and increase the overall extent of heathland. Red Campion will be encouraged where appropriate. Depending of growth rates and lights levels, plantations • Wildflower Meadow may have up to a further 30% of trees felled during the latter years of the stewardship agreement, subject to the The route of the former railway line across Brownhills approval of Natural England and the Forestry Commission. Common is being managed as a wildflower meadow We are seeking a Forestry Commission Felling Licence for (see Figure 5). the tree work, which will not start before autumn 2013. All Plants include Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra), Ox- mature native broadleaved trees will remain. We will check eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and Yellow Rattle trees for roosting bats and breeding birds. If the weather (Rhinanthus minor). These provide nectar, pollen and other is poor, work may be postponed to reduce any damage. food for bees, butterflies and many other invertebrates. Three options are proposed for the timing of the management work in the conifer plantations, as follows: 1. Undertake all management work during winter 2013/14 or 2014/15. This would mean that all of the work is achieved at once, with disturbance occurring in one year only. 2. Undertake some management work during each winter from 2013/14 to 2017/18. This would mean that the work will take longer to achieve, with some disturbance in each year. 3. Undertake more management work during some winters from 2013/14 to 2017/18. A compromise between options 1 and 2, which would see some disturbance occurring in some Figure 5. Wildflower Meadow, Brownhills Common years and none in others. © Colin Manning, Walsall Council

7

Key

SSSI boundary

Conifer plantation to be thinned by up to 30%

Conifer plantation to be removed and area restored to lowland heathland

Potential location for replacement planting with native broadleaved trees and shrubs

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (c) Crown Copyright and database rights 2011 Ordnance Survey 100019529 N 50 metres Figure 6. Brownhills Common plantation management and proposed tree planting Table 1 Plantation management work Plantation Species Area ha Total Trees Management work Notes 1 Scots Pine 0.37 113 Remove up to 30% of trees Some Birch and Oak saplings 2 Scots Pine and Lodgepole Pine 0.21 112 Remove up to 30% of trees Some Birch and Oak saplings 3 Scots Pine 0.21 103 Remove up to 30% of trees 4 Scots Pine 0.05 29 Remove up to 30% of trees 5 Corsican Pine 0.11 30 Remove up to 30% of trees Some Birch and Oak saplings, with 6 Scots Pine 0.18 36 Remove up to 30% of trees Birch scrub on edges Some Birch and Oak saplings, with 7 Lodgepole Pine 0.50 195 Remove up to 30% of trees Whitebeam and Sycamore on edges 8 Lodgepole Pine 0.37 208 Remove up to 30% of trees Lodgepole Pine and Some Birch and Oak saplings, with 9 0.09 96 Remove up to 30% of trees European Larch Whitebeam and Sycamore on edges 10 European Larch 0.10 56 Remove up to 30% of trees 10a Lodgepole Pine 0.17 107 Remove up to 30% of trees Some semi-mature Sycamore 8

Key

SSSI boundary

Conifer plantation to be thinned by up to 30%

Conifer plantation to be removed and area restored to lowland heathland

Potential location for replacement planting with native broadleaved trees and shrubs

Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (c) Crown Copyright and database rights 2011 Ordnance Survey 100019529 N 50 metres

Plantation Species Area ha Total Trees Management work Notes Remove and restore to 11 Lodgepole Pine 0.01 6 lowland heathland 12 Scots Pine 0.15 100 Remove up to 30% of trees Heather regenerating 13 Scots Pine and Lodgepole Pine 0.14 39 Remove up to 30% of trees Thin strip with mix of Birch and Oak 14 Scots Pine 0.26 185 Remove up to 30% of trees Dense stand Remove and restore to 15 Lodgepole Pine 0.60 70 lowland heathland Scots Pine, Lodgepole Pine 16 0.70 187 Remove up to 30% of trees Mix of Birch and Oak developing and European Larch Some Birch and Oak saplings, plus 17 Scots Pine 1.10 502 Remove up to 30% of trees Red Oak and Birch scrub on edges Some semi‑mature Red Oak and 18 Corsican Pine 0.40 50 Remove up to 30% of trees developing Oak and Birch woodland Some semi-mature Red Oak and 19 Scots Pine 0.22 63 Remove up to 30% of trees developing Oak and Birch woodland 9 Plantation © Kevin Clements, 15 Walsall Council Figure 7.

Plantation 15 (see Figure 7) contains 70 widely spaced the north and south. This will not involve any ground trees and plantation 11 has just six trees. The trees in excavation, but we will cut and spread Heather brash both plantations are Lodgepole Pine. during autumn to allow seed to fall and plants to colonise. These trees will be removed and the areas restored to lowland heathland to reconnect existing habitat to Plantation 7 © Kevin Clements, Walsall Council Figure 8.

Plantation 7 (see Figure 8) and others have closely focus on weaker specimens, leaving healthier ones. The spaced trees, with little food and cover for wildlife. increased light levels will encourage other plants to grow, We will fell up to 30% of the trees in these plantations; we providing cover, food and breeding sites for animals. will do this in liaison with the Forestry Commission and

10 Natural England’s perspective on the Scrub or woodland around the edge of the Common need to manage Brownhills Common contributes to its shelter and can also provide important nectar sources for invertebrates for much of the year. Lowland heathland supports the greatest diversity of plants and animals where management maintains the Woodlands, whether broadleaved or coniferous, also open, warm nature of the heath and a varied age structure. benefit greatly from management. A diverse woodland It is generally beneficial if all stages of the heather life-cycle structure, with open space, dense understorey and are present. Without management, heathland becomes more mature canopy, is important. A range of ages progressively dominated by Bracken, Gorse and, on and species within and between stands is also wet ground, grass tussocks. Eventually scrub and trees desirable. Some dead and decaying wood, such will invade, which if left unmanaged will progressively as fallen logs, can provide habitats for fungi and reduce the nature conservation value of the Common. invertebrates. Where grazing is not possible, cutting or mowing Both temporary and permanent open spaces benefit can be useful options for managing dry heath where invertebrates such as butterflies. Some parts of a a mosaic of patches of heather of different ages is wood should be left unmanaged to benefit species desired. The cut material needs to be removed to that do best under low disturbance or in response to avoid the build up of nutrients and allow cut plants natural processes. to regrow successfully. Generally, areas of wet heath Conifer plantations on the heathland need to be require limited management. managed to increase their nature conservation value Retaining small patches of scrub and a few, scattered to help conserve and enhance the heathland features trees across the Common will be beneficial. Patches of of interest of the SSSI. For example, selective removal scrub provide warmth, shelter, cover, foodplants, perches, of trees will create gaps in the plantation canopy to territorial markers and sources of prey for heathland allow sunlight and warmth in and heathland vegetation animals. The wildlife value of the scrub is at its maximum to develop, providing habitat for heathland fauna and when it has a range of species, heights and ages. connecting areas of open heathland together. Brownhills Common lowland heathland Figure 9. Council Walsall Manning, Colin @ Brownhills Common in 2022 The wet heathland will continue to provide breeding sites for Great Crested Newt and other amphibians, The vision for Brownhills Common is to bring it into and food and shelter for wildfowl and other birds. favourable condition by 2022. We will achieve this in liaison with local communities and other partners, and The conifer plantations will be lighter and warmer. by managing the various habitats appropriately. There will be more Heather and other trees, shrubs and wildflowers across the ground (see Figure 9). The songs The lowland heathland will consist of Bilberry, Broom, of Coal Tit and Goldcrest will continue to be heard, but so gorses, heathers and other shrubs of various ages. There too will those of warblers such as Blackcap and Chiffchaff. will be areas of grassland with wildflowers, patches of scrub and a scattering of Birch, Oak and Rowan trees. Bluebell and Red Campion will be flowering in the broadleaved woodland. Ringlet, Speckled Wood A greater variety of birds will be breeding e.g. Linnet, and other butterflies will be flitting through patches of Meadow Pipit and Common Whitethroat, and perhaps sunlight. Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Jay and woodpeckers Cuckoo and Stonechat. Common Lizard and Slow- will be nesting, whilst groups of Red Deer will continue to worm will bask on open ground and Kestrels will hover feed in the open heath and seek cover in the woodland. in search of small mammals. The varied age structure and richness of wildflowers will provide opportunities for More people will be enjoying the Common, getting invertebrates, especially bees, beetles and butterflies. close to nature and watching the wildlife. 11 Replacement Tree Planting To compensate for the removal of plantations 11 and 15, we will plant at least 1ha of new broadleaved woodland in locations around the edges of the Common. Ground preparation will be undertaken during 2013 and 2014, with planting in the 2013/14 and 2014/15 winters.

Figure 11. Developing woodland © Colin Manning, Walsall Council A number of locations are proposed for this new

Figure 10. Newly planted tree planting (see Figures 6 and 12). These are currently of © Colin Manning, Walsall Council low quality, being comprised mainly of Bramble and Nettle. Planting these areas with trees will improve their We will plant young transplants, about 60cm tall, all quality over time. of native species found in local woodlands e.g. Oak, Cherry, Rowan and Hazel. These are hardy and require little aftercare, other than keeping a weed free area around the base of each tree for the first few years (see Figure 10) until they become established (see Figure 11). The trees and shrubs will add to the woodland edge that buffers Brownhills Common from the busy roads around it. They will also provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

Friends of Brownhills Common Walsall Council has a vision to ‘Involve as many people as possible in the management and maintenance of its green spaces’.

There are now over 20 Friends groups across the Figure 12. Potential planting location along A5 Borough, covering a diverse range of countryside © Colin Manning, Walsall Council sites, parks and other green spaces. They provide We welcome your views on the proposed planting opportunities for local people and site users to areas and species mix, and any suggestions that become involved in their local green space e.g. you have for other locations and species. practical activities, health walks, consultation days, local meetings and fund raising. Community Garden Project Friends come from various backgrounds and have a range of interests. Groups work in partnership with Brownhills Community Association is keen to establish a Walsall Council and other community organisations Community Garden. The project aims to bring together and partners, and can be a real catalyst in keen gardeners to help create a community garden and representing the views of the local community and encourage and others who wish to take up gardening. ensuring that there is a platform for local people The intention is to grow fruit and vegetables as part of to influence the management, maintenance and promoting healthy eating and helping young people learn improvement of a site. about gardening techniques and the joys of gardening. We wish to help establish a Friends of Brownhills The Association, Walsall College and Walsall Common group. If you wish to receive further Council are exploring opportunities for students and details or become involved, please complete and others to make hanging flowers baskets and raised return the questionnaire on pages 13 and 14 of flowers beds, including using some of the timber this booklet. from Brownhills Common. This would make the management work far more sustainable. 12 BrownhillsBrownhills Common Common Restoration Restoration Scheme Scheme - Your - Your views views BeforeBefore giving giving us us your your views views please please review review the the detai detailedled plans. plans.

HavingHaving read read the the information information and and reviewed reviewed the the plans, plans, we we would would now now like like to hearto hear your your viewsviews on on the the scheme. scheme. Your Your views views will will be be used used to toinf informorm aspects aspects of ofthe the Brownhills Brownhills CommonCommon management management plan plan 2013-22. 2013-22. TheThe closing closing date date for for comments comments is is14th 14th August August 2013. 2013. 1.1. Having Having considered considered the the information information regarding regarding the the appropriate appropriate management management and and restorationrestoration of of Brownhills Brownhills SSSI, SSSI, what what are are your your views views on on the the scheme scheme overall? overall? Please Please write write in.in.

2.2. Is Is there there anything anything you you would would change change about about the the heat heathlandhland restoration restoration scheme? scheme? Please Please writewrite in. in.

InIn order order to to restore restore the the central central part part of of Brownhills Brownhills Common Common to toits its natural natural heathland heathland habitat, habitat, twotwo conifer conifer plantations plantations (identified (identified as as areas areas 11 11 and and 15 15 in inFigure Figure 6) 6)need need to beto beremoved. removed. OtherOther plantations plantations will will have have up up to to 30% 30% of of trees trees remo removed.ved. All All tree tree removal removal will will be bedone done in in accordanceaccordance with with standard standard woodland woodland management management practi practice.ce. 3.3. There There are are three three options options for for when when plantation plantation tree tree removal removal work work is isundertaken, undertaken, which which of of thethe following following would would be be your your preference? preference? Tick Tick one one on only.ly. OptionOption 1. 1. Undertake Undertake all all management management work work during during wint winter er2013/14 2013/14 or or2014/15. 2014/15. ThisThis would would mean mean that that all all of of the the work work is isachieved achieved at atonce, once, with with disturbance disturbance occurring occurring in onein one yearyear only...... only...... OptionOption 2. 2. Undertake Undertake some some management management work work during during eac each winterh winter from from 2013/14 2013/14 to to 2017/18.2017/18. This This would would mean mean that that the the work work will will take take longer longer to toachieve, achieve, with with some some disturbance disturbance inin each each year...... year...... OptionOption 3.Undertake 3.Undertake more more management management work work during during some some winters winters from from 2013/14 2013/14 to to 2017/18.2017/18. A A compromise compromise between between options options 1 1and and 2, 2,which which would would see see some some disturbance disturbance occurringoccurring in in some some years years and and none none in in others others ...... Other,Other, please please tick tick and and state state below below ......

4.4. Why Why do do you you say say this? this? Please Please write write in. in.

5.5. The The council council has has sought sought specialist specialist advice advice concerni concerningng management management of ofthe the lowland lowland heathland,heathland, broadleaf broadleaf and and conifer conifer woodland woodland on on Brownh Brownhillsills Common. Common.

DoDo you you have have any any concerns concerns or or comments comments relating relating to to as aspectspects of ofthe the proposed proposed managementmanagement of of Brownhills Brownhills Common? Common? Please Please write write in. in.

13 6.6. Where Where if if at at all, all, would would you you like like to to see see native native tre treeses and and shrubs shrubs planted planted on onBrownhills Brownhills Common?Common? Please Please write write in. in.

7.7. Do Do you you have have any any other other comments comments about about the the planned planned management management and and restoration restoration of of BrownhillsBrownhills Common? Common? Please Please write write in. in.

8.8. Please Please tell tell us us your your home home postcode. postcode. ForFor analysis analysis purposes purposes only. only. Your Your views views will will not not be be linked linked or orreported reported in anyin any way way that that may may identifyidentify you. you.

GetGet involved! involved! WalsallWalsall Council Council wishes wishes to to help help establish establish a Friendsa Friends of ofBrownhills Brownhills Common Common group group to to contributecontribute towards towards the the management management and and maintenance maintenance of othef the SSSI. SSSI. (see(see page page 12 12 of of the the boo boo for for more more details). details). 9.9. Would Would you you be be interested interested in in receiving receiving information information from from Walsall Walsall Council Council about about the the Friends Friends ofof Brownhills Brownhills Common Common and and maybe maybe join join the the group? group? Tick Tick one one only. only. YesYes please...... please...... NoNo thanks thanks ...... 10.10. Brownhills Brownhills Community Community Association Association is is keen keen to to esta establishblish a Communitya Community Garden Garden (se (see pagee page 1212 for for more more details details).). Would Would you you be be interested interested in inhearing hearing more more about about Commu Communitynity Gardens Gardens oror being being involved involved in in the the project? project? Tick Tick one one only. only. YesYes please...... please...... NoNo thanks thanks ...... IfIf you you would would like like someone someone to to contact contact you you about about eith either erthe the Friends Friends of ofBrownhills Brownhills Common Common groupgroup or or the the Community Community Gardens Gardens Project Project please please leave leave your your details details below. below.

ByBy ticking ticking 'yes' 'yes' in in Q9 Q9 and and providing providing your your contact contact de detailstails below below you you are are agreeing agreeing for forWalsall Walsall Council Council to contact to contact you youregarding regarding the the FriendsFriends of of Brownhills Brownhills Common. Common. By By ticking ticking ''yes' ''yes' in inQ1 Q10 and0 and by byproviding providing your your contact contact details details you you are areagreeing agreeing that thatWalsall Walsall CouncilCouncil can can pass pass your your details details to to Brownhills Brownhills Communit Community Associationy Association for forthe the purpose purpose of contacting of contacting you you abou about thet Communitythe Community GardenGarden project. project. Your Your personal personal details details will will not not be be used used for for any any other other purpose purpose and and will willnot notbe linkedbe linked or reported or reported alongside alongside any anyof of youryour answers answers in in this this questionnaire. questionnaire. YourYour name name

YourYour address address

YourYour email email YourYour phone phone numbernumber ThankThank you you for for completing completing this this questionnaire. questionnaire.

PleasePlease hand hand in in at at one one of of our our consultation consultation events events or orpost post to: to: FreepostFreepost WL424, WL424, Brownhills Brownhills Common Common Heathland Heathland Restora Restoration,tion, Walsall Walsall Council, Council, CivicCivic Centre, Centre, Darwall Darwall Street, Street, WALSALL WALSALL WS1 WS1 1BR 1BR

14 Heathland Plants

Common Heather or Ling Bell Heather Cross-leaved Heath (Calluna vulgaris) (Erica cinerea) (Erica tetralix) © Colin Manning, Walsall Council © Colin Manning, Walsall Council © Colin Manning, Walsall Council

Bilberry Southern Marsh Orchid Common Spotted Orchid (Vaccinium myrtillus) (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) (Dactylorhiza fuschii) © Colin Manning, Walsall Council © Kevin Clements, Walsall Council © Kevin Clements, Walsall Council

The photographs above and overleaf show just some understanding of these sites and contribute towards of the many plants and animals that live in lowland their ongoing management. heathland. Please send details including species, date, location How many can you find on Brownhills Common and your name and contact details to: or elsewhere? Walsall Countryside Services,Environmental Depot, If you do find any of these or other species, we 200 Pelsall Road, Brownhills, WS8 7EN would be grateful if you could let us know, as your or [email protected]. records would help increase our knowledge and Thank you.

15 Heathland Animals

Common Lizard Common Whitethroat (Zootoca vivipara) (Sylvia communis) © Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council © Nigel Talbot

Great Crested Newt Tawny Mining Bee (Triturus cristatus) (Andrena sulva) © Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council © Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council

Green Tiger Beetle Green Hairstreak Butterfly (Cicindela campestris) (Callophrys rubi) © Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council © Morgan Bowers, Walsall Council 51006 07/13