DANESBURY LOCAL NATURE RESERVE

DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013 – 2023

Chris James Landscape & Ecology Officer Borough Council 2013

DANESBURY LOCAL NATURE RESERVE, WELWYN

Management Plan - Contents

Section 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Location and Status

1.2 Land Tenure

1.3 Site Description

1.4 Past Management

1.5 Present Management

Section 2 EVALUATION

2.1 Ecological Evaluation

2.2 Amenity Evaluation

2.3 Site Potential

2.4 The Role of Countryside Stewardship Grant

Section 3 SITE MANAGEMENT

3.1 Overall Vision

3.2 Objectives of Management

3.3 Management Operations

Section 4 GENERIC ANNUAL WORK PLAN

Section 5 HIGHER LEVEL STEWARDSHIP GRANT FOR 2013-2023

Section 6 GETTING THE WORK DONE

Section 7 PAYING FOR RESERVE MANAGEMENT

Section 8 PUBLIC LIAISON AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Section 9 PLAN REVIEW

MAPS

DANESBURY LOCAL NATURE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2013- 2023

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Location and Status

Site Name: Danesbury Local Nature Reserve

Location: The site lies to the immediate north of Welwyn village in central Hertfordshire. The southern boundary is formed by residential housing, the west by the B656 Welwyn-Codicote road, the north by private access road to Danesbury House and by a derelict grazing meadow and the east by the A1(M) motorway.

Grid Reference: Around Ordnance Survey reference TL230160.

Status: Danesbury was designated Local Nature Reserve in 1998. It is also a County Wildlife Site

Size: 25 hectares

Access: There is pedestrian access throughout the nature reserve at all times of the year from a number of kissing gates around the boundaries.

Local Authorities: Hertfordshire County Council Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

Site Contacts: Mrs C James, Landscape & Ecology Officer, WHBC 01707 357418 Mr R Williams, Grazier 01462 434762 Mr J Roper, Danesbury Residents Association 01438 715221

1.2 Land Tenure

Ownership The nature reserve is owned by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

Boundary Responsibility All boundaries around the nature reserve are the responsibility of the Borough Council apart from: a) the boundary along the un-surfaced Danesbury Park Road on the west side of the reserve. This is included in the deeds of the property known as Danesbury Heights and was re-fenced by the owners in 2008. b) the boundary adjacent to the A1(M) on the east side of the reserve. This boundary comprises motorway post-and-rail fencing.

Constraints Under the terms of acquisition, the land may be used only for wildlife conservation and public access and enjoyment.

The nature reserve is managed under the terms of a 10-year Stewardship Agreement agreed with Defra in 2003.

Protected Species The nature reserve contains protected species including breeding birds and bats.

Rights of Way Only one public footpath passes through the reserve. This leads north from rear of the former ‘Clock Hotel’ through the eastern (Fernery) field and onto private land on the north side.

Services Water is supplied via underground pipes to cattle drinking troughs in each grazing paddock (see map).

1.3 Site Description

1.3.1 Physical

The nature reserve comprises two large fields separated by a wedge-shaped derelict meadow not in Council ownership. The wedge is bounded on each side by roads leading to Danesbury House. The western field is known as Park Field and the eastern field as Fernery Field. Both fields are stock-fenced to allow the grazing of cattle. The northern boundary of Park Field is formed by an ancient sunken track known as Ghyll Hill.

The land rises from 60 to over 100 metres above sea level with the highest area situated at the north end of the reserve from where there is an extensive view over the Lockleys estate to the east. Similar extensive views can also be had from parts of Park Field westwards across the valley formed by the River Mimram. The land slopes away from a central plateau to the south, south-east and south-west.

The reserves lies on a mixture of alluvial gravels and clay loams with the chalk lying not far below the surface giving rise to generally neutral to slightly alkaline soils.

The only water on the reserve is that found in a small pond roughly in the centre of the Park Field.

1.3.2 Biological

Danesbury comprises the following main habitat types:

Neutral to slightly acidic semi-natural grassland This occurs in two fields as described above and which differ in their characteristics. The major part of Park Field consists of relatively species-rich old grassland which is generally on the acid side of neutral, especially on the main plateau. Slightly less acid conditions exist on the drier, more freely draining slope near the Codicote road but there are places especially towards the south side and in the north-east corner where the grassland displays slightly more calcareous conditions. The more neutral grassland is dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra, common bent Agrostis capillaris, and cock’sfoot Dactylis glomerata. In damper areas especially on the plateau near the pond, tufted hair grass Deschampsia caespitosa occurs along with Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus.

Park Field also supports typical old grassland herbs including black knapweed Centaurea nigra, which grows in extensive stands on the plateau, common sorrel Rumex acetosa, bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus, ladies bedstraw Galium verum, germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys and lesser stitchwort Stellaria graminea. In the more calcareous areas, agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria and cowslip Primula veris occur. In damper ground north of the pond is a small colony of the less common pepper saxifrage Silaum silaus growing with a few plants of ladies smock Cardamine pratensis. The rare woolly-headed thistle Cirsium eriophorum is successfully colonising several areas on the southern side of the field.

Some parts of the field are relatively species-poor, particularly on the damper more calcareous slope near the Codicote Road and in the centre. Here, the grassland is dominated by false oat grass Arrhenatherum elatius which would suppress other species if not grazed by either cattle or rabbits. Species poverty is the result of enrichment in the past by agricultural fertilisers and herbicide treatments. Grassland on the lower slopes of Park Field has a significant growth of both ragwort Senecio jacobaea and creeping thistle Cirsium arvense, exacerbated by droughts, attempts at treatment with herbicides and with soil disturbance caused by rabbits.

Fernery Field, in contrast to Park Field, is generally more species-poor although the basic grassland community would have been similar in the past, being on similar soils. The effects of past fertiliser and herbicide application have resulted in a less diverse flora across most of the field but with some elements remaining, particularly in a strip along the west boundary where old grassland species such as agrimony, mouse-eared hawkweed Pilosella officinarum and germander speedwell still occur, and in a swathe along the eastern boundary close to the motorway. This latter area still contains finer grasses such as red fescue, common bent and crested dog’s tail Cynosurus cristatus with herbs such as common cat’s ear Hypochoeris radicata. Rabbit grazing has kept the sward short and this is ideal for rarer grassland fungi.

Fernery Field, looking south

With the cessation of herbicide applications, ragwort and creeping thistle are also a significant element of the grassland community, especially at the north end of the field. However, other more desirable species such as lesser stitchwort have begun to colonise. Woolly headed thistle also occurs in places.

Flower-rich grassland in any context is important to insects. Recently recorded butterflies include small heath Coenonympha pamphilus, small copper Lycaena phlaeas and marbled white Melanargia galathea. Increasing areas of the grassland in Park Field have become attractive to the yellow meadow ant Lasius flavius, an important food of green woodpecker.

Mixed scrub Well-established thorn and mixed scrub occurs primarily in blocks along the slope above the Codicote Road on the west side of the reserve. This is the scrub habitat of most value on the site. Other patches of less important scrub comprising elder and bramble are also developing across this area. The western and north boundaries of Park Field also have scrubby margins.

Within Fernery Field, the fenced-off area known as The Fernery, a remnant of the former Victorian garden landscape, is now dominated by stands of nettle under scrub of holly and thorn. Ferns are no longer present.

Hedgerows Hedgerows do not form significant features on the site but two boundaries have been planted in order to create linking or thickening habitats.

Almost all houses around the south side of Park Field are bounded by planted hedges. Maintenance of these remains the responsibility of the residents.

Broad-leaved woodland Oldend Wood, a small (1ha ) rectangular block of secondary woodland, is located at the north end of Fernery Field. It is a plantation comprising ash, sycamore and oak and is about 60-80 years old. Ash is regenerating thickly in places but there is no real shrub layer. A thick but broken hedge of cherry plum grows along its western boundary. The eastern boundary is fenced against the motorway.

North Ride Spinney lies at the junction of the two roads leading to Danesbury House. It is a plantation of sycamore aged approximately 60 years with a ground layer of ivy and bramble where there is sufficient light to allow growth. There are also one or two relict parkland trees including beech and horse chestnut. Decaying fallen timber, particularly the beech is of importance for invertebrates and for fungi which have included in the past the rare ‘hedgehog’ fungus Hericium erinaceum.

A narrow belt of semi-natural ancient woodland dominated by oak, beech and hornbeam is associated with Ghyll Hill, the sunken track forming the northern boundary of Park Field. This supports a limited ancient woodland flora including the very localised wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus, bluebell

Endymion non-scriptus and planted primrose Primula vulgaris.

Ghyll Hill

Ghyll Hill

Small plantations of mixed broad-leaved trees There are five blocks of young trees planted in 1992. Species include common oak, beech, field maple, hornbeam with some hazel, dogwood and dog-rose. These have received their first thinning.

Mature parkland trees A number of single and grouped mature trees are distributed around both fields, planted originally in the late 1800s by a previous owner. They include beech, hybrid lime, common oak and Wellingtonia. A number of these fine old trees are now in senescence or dead but are retained as standing dead wood. Others have fallen but, again, are retained as a dead wood resource. Both green and great-spotted woodpeckers use this resource as do kestrel and little owl. Recent survey found 21 species of lichen growing on a fire-damaged ash pollard in Park Field.

As well as recent plantings of lime, oak and beech, oak is regenerating freely in the grassland, especially in Park Field.

A pond A small (25 square metres) round pond lies in the centre of Park Field. Surrounded by willow and thorn scrub on the north and east side, it is generally open to the south and west with tussocky grass margins. Water levels fluctuate seasonally and unfortunately the pond has been invaded by New Zealand Pigmy Weed.

The pond is fenced to exclude grazing cattle so retains a margin of taller vegetation.

1.3.3 Cultural

Landscape & Heritage The land at Danesbury is the remnant of a former landed estate consisting of a mansion surrounded by designed parkland. The mansion has been converted to private apartments and about one third of the parkland has survived following development of much of the remainder of the estate for residential housing in the 1960s.

Remaining features include a ‘Fernery’, designed during the late Victorian era when cultivation and collecting of ferns was much in vogue. The Fernery is located in a roughly circular pit in the centre of the eastern (fernery) field. Of great interest and potential importance is the remaining artificial rock feature constructed by Pulham Ltd, a local company who developed an artificial rock made of concrete. This would previously have supported colonies of planted ferns and a water cascade. The area around the cascade was planted with variegated holly and fenced with ornate iron railings. The Fernery fell out of use in the early twentieth century and very little recent management has been undertaken, apart from the making safe of water supply cisterns and the fencing of the boundary to exclude grazing livestock.

Remains of the Fernery constructed from ‘Pulhamite’

Educational Danesbury is not used formally for education at present.

Community The nature reserve is valued as an importance green space asset by the community of Welwyn. A small but loyal friends group has been associated with the reserve since the Borough Council began restoring the site in the early 1990s.

1.4 Past Management

The nature reserve was formerly part of a small agricultural estate where cattle were grazed by a tenant until the land was acquired by a developer.

In1992, the land was entered into Countryside Stewardship to generate income for new fencing to enable grazing to resume across the site. Forestry Commission grant helped pay for tree planting at the same time.

A small Friends group was established which initially carried out 3-4 voluntary conservation tasks each year.

1.5 Present Management Grazing with rare-breed cattle continues between April and October. The areas of un-grazed grassland outside the paddocks are silage-cut annually in late summer/early autumn by specialist contractor. Perimeter paths are mown by the grazier. Control of ragwort (by hand-pulling or spot-spraying) and of creeping thistle (by cutting) is carried out by contractor. Essential health and safety work to trees is undertaken by the council’s tree contractors. Small-scale maintenance of paths, tree planting, scrub management and species monitoring is undertaken by the Friends of Danesbury.

2.0 EVALUATION

2.1 Ecological Evaluation

2.1.1 Size Danesbury is one of the largest areas of semi-natural neutral grassland remaining in Hertfordshire. As such it is of great importance for the county’s wildlife. Many other historic parklands have been converted to arable farming with resulting loss of grassland species and mature trees.

2.1.2 Diversity The nature reserve contains a range of grassland and woodland habitats, a relatively large number of mature trees and a small pond. This variety offers feeding, breeding and roosting habitats to a wide variety of species, especially insects, plants, birds and mammals. Of particular importance are close-cropped grassland and the dead wood for fungi.

2.1.3 Naturalness Past and present ‘conservation’ grazing has resulted in grassland that can be considered as ‘semi-natural’. Neither fertiliser nor herbicide has been used for many years. Natural ecological succession to woodland has been arrested by grazing and so Danesbury has developed a semi-natural structure within the confines of management.

The policy of long-term retention of over-mature trees (rather than sanitary felling and clearing away) has resulted in the natural break-down of woody material, thus allowing its full utilisation by fungi, specialist wood invertebrates and hole-nesting birds.

2.1.4 Rarity Unimproved grasslands of all types are now rare in Hertfordshire (96% of grasslands have been lost since 1945) and although none of the species growing at Danesbury are considered especially rare, the overall assemblage and extent of the grassland make this a rare habitat.

Few grassland sites in Hertfordshire have been so comprehensively surveyed for their fungi. This survey has highlighted Danesbury’s importance for the small and brightly-coloured species called ‘waxcaps’ which are used throughout the UK as indicator species of old grasslands. The rare ‘hedgehog’ fungus Hiericium erinaceum has occurred on freshly dead beech logs.

Parrot Waxcap ‘Hedgehog’ Fungus

2.1.5 Fragility The site is vulnerable to loss of plant species and dependent fauna through failure to manage the grassland sympathetically. Both under- and over- grazing can be damaging but so equally could management by cutting the grass for hay or silage. Grassland habitats are also highly vulnerable to changes in climate, especially spring droughts and increasing deposition of atmospheric nitrogen.

The importance of the site for its deadwood fauna could be compromised by over-zealous tidying of fallen branches and trees.

2.1.6 Typicalness Danesbury is a typical example of unimproved, relatively un-modified parkland landscape of central Hertfordshire. It is also typical of unimproved neutral grassland in a Hertfordshire context.

2.1.7 Position in an ecological unit Although other areas of grassland can be found close by, including the wedge-shaped land lying between the two main fields, all are either derelict or in more intensive agricultural management regimes. It is likely therefore that Danesbury is relatively isolated from other semi- natural grassland.

2.2 Amenity Evaluation

Although there is only one public right-of-way at Danesbury, the entire reserve is freely accessible from adjacent residential areas through a number of gateways. Additional internal kissing gates also allow free access across the grazing compartment in Park Field. With the opportunity to gain unrestricted access to this kind of parkland landscape becoming more rare in Hertfordshire, Danesbury will appeal to local residents and visitors alike.

A walk around Danesbury in late spring or early summer is a very enjoyable and peaceful experience and provides visitors with glimpses of a wide variety of local wildlife. Many visitors enjoy seeing the unusual rare-breed cattle grazing the fields and are quick to inform the grazier or council officers of any problems.

There are attractive views over local countryside, especially the Mimram valley.

There is currently no site interpretation.

2.3 Site Potential

The potential future value of Danesbury lies with the continuation of sympathetic grassland management, preferably by low intensity grazing coupled with control of troublesome weeds and cutting as necessary.

With its suspected populations of small rodents, it is considered that Danesbury should be attractive to barn owls. This species is thought to have bred on the site in the latter part of the twentieth century and could do so again at any time. Two nest boxes have been erected on site to encourage them.

2.4 The Role of Countryside Stewardship Grant

The Countryside Stewardship grant paid to the council by Defra enables ‘conservation grazing’ to be continued on the nature reserve. The low quality of the forage, in agricultural terms, means that Danesbury would not be a commercially attractive prospect to a conventional livestock farmer. Without this grant therefore, the council would be unable to manage the reserve in an ecologically sensitive way.

New Higher Level Stewardship grant being applied for in Spring 2013 will enable a partial restoration of an important historic garden landscape feature. It is unlikely that this work could be considered without access to this grant scheme.

3.0 SITE MANAGEMENT

3.1 Overall Vision Danesbury Local Nature Reserve will continue to retain its historic parkland landscape characteristics with cattle-grazed grassland, older trees in senescence and younger trees, both naturally regenerated and planted. There will continue to be attractive views across the Mimram valley to south-east and west.

Grassland habitats will include short, grazed swards and longer tussocky grassland containing flowers and grasses which attract a wide range of insects as food for birds and mammals. The grassland will continue to support fungi, especially waxcaps.

The nature reserve will be a popular and much-loved local green space, used by local families and schools as well as ramblers and naturalists. The Friends of Danesbury Park will continue to work in close partnership with the council’s landscape officer, providing much valued input.

3.2 Objectives of Management

The management of Danesbury Local Nature Reserve should achieve the following:

 retention and enhancement wherever possible of the site’s historic parkland landscape, including the Fernery, ‘heritage’ trees and important vistas

 maintenance and enhancement of habitats supporting a wide range of typical wildlife species, especially any notable species found on the reserve

 maintenance of safe and attractive pedestrian access by local people and visitors for quiet informal recreation

 support and encouragement of the Friends of Danesbury Park

 provision of opportunities for educational use and interpretation

3.3 Management operations

3.3.1 Grassland

Park Field and Fernery Field will be grazed by cattle at appropriate stocking rates (generally les than 2 cattle per hectare), the timing of grazing to be adjusted according to availability of forage and condition of vegetation, but aiming for a sward height of approximately 10-15 cm at the end of the grazing season.

The use of supplementary feeding should be avoided, with the exception of mineral blocks if necessary which should not be placed in areas of floristic importance.

The fields may be topped in autumn or early spring wherever ground conditions allow if grazing has failed to achieve its objective.

Un-grazed grassland on the Park Field north of houses will be cut annually in autumn, with arisings lifted and composted in an agreed location to provide habitat for invertebrates and reptiles.

The spread of undesirable plant species, especially ragwort and creeping thistle will be controlled, ideally by hand-pulling (ragwort) or by cutting (thistles). Cutting or pulling should normally be undertaken during July when flowering is at its height but before seeding takes place. If used, chemical control of ragwort should be with an approved herbicide, according to the council’s pesticide policy and COSSH regulations.

The condition of grassland habitats will be monitored annually in summer in order to:  assess increase and/or decrease of important species  identify new species  assess need for weed control  determine the need to adjust the timing of grazing.

3.3.2 Scrub

The extent of scrub in lower Park Field will be controlled to ensure that:  important grassland habitat is not compromised  views of the more significant parkland trees are not lost  more effective mechanical weed control is possible  access to warrens for rabbit control is facilitated, especially where ferreting with nets is undertaken.

The scrub habitat will be managed by coppicing to allow a range of ages to be present on site. This is important for local bird communities, especially summer migrants.

Management of scrub will take place during winter months to avoid the bird nesting season. Cut material will either be chipped and composted if machinery is available or burned, avoiding species-rich grassland, with limited amounts left in agreed locations as ‘habitat piles’.

3.3.3 Woodland and Trees

Oldend Wood and North Ride Spinney are included within the Welwyn Hatfield Small Woods Management Plan and are certified within the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme. No major work is planned during the 2011-2015 plan period, although it is recommended that thinning is considered to improve spacing and condition of remaining trees. Thinning is likely to yield a saleable quantity of firewood. New gated access into Oldend Wood has been created with this in mind.

New plantings on Park Field have received an initial thinning to promote groups of oak and beech. Further thinning will be undertaken at five-year intervals to continue the re-spacing of the new trees.

The best formed young oak saplings elsewhere in the Park will be retained and pruned appropriately as they grow to be the parkland trees of the future.

The oldest trees on the reserve will be left to go into senescence without intervention unless public safety is compromised. Any branches which have to be removed or trees felled will be left on site to decay after any essential tidying or safety work is undertaken.

It is planned to establish new groups of trees within timber guards on Fernery Field during this plan period. Other trees planted in this manner in both fields will be maintained as necessary.

3.3.4 Hedgerows

The planted hedgerow along the drive to Danesbury house will be laid during winter 2011/12. This work will be undertaken by a local conservation volunteer group. The other planted hedge along the Danesbury Park Road boundary will receive occasional pruning to encourage bushy growth but will otherwise be left to grow free to provide scrub cover.

Regenerating thorn scrub growing adjacent to the house boundaries will be kept under control either when the grassland is cut in autumn or on an ad-hoc basis in order that local residents may continue to maintain their own hedges.

3.3.5 The Fernery

Recent re-assessment of the potential of the Fernery to provide a significant point of interest within the nature reserve will hopefully lead to partial restoration funded by Higher Level Stewardship::

 removal of scrub growing along the cascade face  replacement of fallen and ‘stray’ rocks into the cascade face  selective removal of more mature trees around the perimeter of the pit  the creation of a circular path including steps to allow safe access  the control of nettles using herbicide and regular cutting of herbaceous vegetation to keep the pit open and attractive  the restoration of sections of the decorative paling fence and its use to create a ‘gateway’  establishment of variegated holly to restore the designed planting scheme  provision of interpretation explaining history and interest of the Fernery

3.3.6 The Pond

Because of its small size, the pond will continue to require occasional de-silting in order to retain a depth of water. This work will be undertaken during the present plan period if resources allow.

The willows and other scrub species on the north side will be maintained by coppicing every 5-8 years during winter to retain low bushy growth. These were most recently cut in early 2012. Young oak saplings will be removed as necessary to prevent them shading the pond.

Tall herbaceous marginal vegetation will be cut biennially during winter. The New Zealand Pygmy Weed will be controlled by hand weeding during winter. It is unlikely that it can be eliminated completely without use of suitable herbicide and this may do more harm than good.

The pond in Spring

3.3.7 Paths and access points

All stiles have now been replaced with kissing gates in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. Kissing gates will be checked at least once a year to make sure they are still fit for purpose. It is intended to improve the ground surface within kissing gate ‘boxes’ to prevent accumulations of mud during wet weather during 2013.

Overgrowing vegetation at entrances will be cut back during spring or on an ad-hoc basis as necessary.

The path around the perimeter of Park Field path will be flail cut approximately three times a year or as seasonal growth makes necessary. Brambles and other scrub growing along the path margins will be flail cut every other year so that potentially flower-rich herbaceous vegetation is not lost.

The Ghyll Hill sunken path will be cut once or twice a year, or as necessary, to control overgrowth and prevent over-shading of woodland ground flora.

3.3.8 Site Interpretation

Currently there is no welcoming or interpretation signage on the nature reserve. This is not a desirable situation and it is hoped that this will be redressed during the plan period as funding is made available through Higher Level Stewardship. .

3.3.9 Fences

All barbed wire fencing was replaced with better quality stock netting during the previous plan period so it is hoped that any significant expenditure on this will be minimised in the future.

Unfortunately, during 2009-2011, damage to fencing and gates has continued to be sustained as a result of illegal access by local travellers in order to graze their horses, necessitating extra vigilance, action by bailiffs and on-going generally minor repairs. It is possible that this activity will continue to be necessary for the foreseeable future.

All repairs to fencing and gates will continue to be undertaken by Maydencroft Rural Ltd.

3.3.10 Pest and weed control

Rabbits will continue to be controlled as and when damage is deemed to be unsustainable. Rabbits will be culled using humane methods. Under no circumstances will chemicals or gas be used, with the exception of the boundary along the Codicote Road where ferreting is not feasible and where control using gas may become necessary. During summer, shooting may be considered with ferreting being the winter option.

Ragwort will continue to be controlled by hand pulling or using suitable and approved herbicide. This work will continue to be carried out by the council’s landscape contractors.

Creeping thistles may be controlled by cutting during July when flowering is at its peak but before seed has set. This method can be used only in areas where cattle do not have access to wilted ragwort (which will have been cut along with the thistles) to avoid livestock poisoning.

Chemical weed control using a tractor-drawn ‘weed-wiper’ has been considered but deemed to be impractical on the Park Field and lower slopes outside the paddock because the ground has been made too uneven by the presence of ant-hills.

4.0 GENERIC ANNUAL WORK PLAN

Time of Year Operation Labour Force

April - October Grazing Park Field and Grazier Fernery Field. Check fences

May – June Flail cut perimeter path and Contractor clear overhanging vegetation July - August at entrances as necessary

April - September Wildlife monitoring (flora and Landscape Officer and Mrs P butterflies) Watt

July Ragwort and thistle control Contractor

August Summer guided walk Landscape Officer & grazier

July – December (approx) Survey of fungi Mrs P Watt

September - March Scrub management Friends of Danesbury Park Tree pruning and other volunteer groups

Thinning of plantations Contractor

September – October Biennial flail cut of perimeter Contractor path to control bramble

November – February Tree Planting Friends of Danesbury Park

January – February Hedge laying Wednesday Volunteers

March Check fences and gates and carry out repairs Contractor / grazier

As necessary Health and safety tree work Contractor

5.0 HIGHER LEVEL STEWARDSHIP GRANT FUNDED WORKS TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD

The following work has funding provisionally agreed:

Capital Works ⋅ Autumn 2013: New fencing and gate installation on Park Field and Fernery Field ⋅ Winter 2013-14: Tree thinning on Park Field ⋅ Winter 2014: Tree planting with post and rail guards on Fernery Field

The following work is awaiting final agreement. Depending on this agreement, the exact timing of the work may change.

The Fernery Restoration between 2013-2014 ⋅ Carry out remedial work to make safe mature trees. Removal of elder and thorn scrub throughout, including those growing through the pulhamite. Estimated cost: £3,000. ⋅ Raise canopy of trees on southern side to clear restored estate railings (included in remedial tree work price). ⋅ Clear site by scraping back nettles and spraying. Estimated cost: £3,000. ⋅ Import top soil. Estimated cost: £2,496. ⋅ Control nettles using herbicide and regularly strim to keep dell open. Estimated cost: £450. ⋅ Reduce existing Hollies, remove scrub and plant bank with blocks of new Holly species around the site perimeter. Mulch Hollies. Estimated cost: £3,708 ⋅ Install steps to reach lower level of dell with safety handrail. Estimated cost: £660 ⋅ Create crushed concrete path from entrance to viewing area for an interpretation board at top of steps. Estimated cost: £1,344 (excluding interpretation board) ⋅ Restore the estate railings around the perimeter of the dell with replica fencing for 10m either side of entrance, and traditional estate railings around the rest. Estimated cost: £17,880. ⋅ Install field gate and construct new entrance feature. Install kissing gate to the south for pedestrian access. Estimated cost: £2,500. ⋅ Remove stock fencing to allow cattle to graze up to the railings. Estimated cost: £660 ⋅ Sow base of dell with wildflower mixture.

6.0 GETTING THE WORK DONE

The majority of the routine site maintenance will continue to be undertaken by the council’s landscape contractors, including path and access maintenance, fencing and gates, weed control and some scrub control.

Essential health and safety work to mature trees will be carried out by the council’s tree contractors.

Future re-spacing of trees within the planted blocks will be undertaken by the council’s landscape contractors.

Any future management in the small woodlands is likely to be undertaken by the Landscape Department’s woodland contractors.

Smaller-scale management of scrub, pond maintenance, tree planting and planted tree pruning will be undertaken by the Friends of Danesbury Park.

Site monitoring will be undertaken by the Landscape Officer, assisted by specialist help when necessary. Butterfly transect surveys and annual recording of fungi will continue to be undertaken by Mrs Pat Watt, as long as she feels able to do so.

7.0 PAYING FOR RESERVE MANAGEMENT

External funding is received annually via Countryside Stewardship grant and the Single Farm Payment scheme. This helps to pay the costs of cattle grazing. Other annual costs such as essential tree work and weed control are paid for out of Landscape department budgets.

Application has been made for Higher Level Stewardship Grant to follow on from when the current scheme ends in 2013. Grants will continue to pay for annual management as well as the proposed restoration of the Fernery.

8.0 PUBLIC LIAISON AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

It is intended that a good relationship between the Council’s Landscape Department and local residents will be maintained. This will primarily be the responsibility of the Landscape Officer working in partnership with the grazier and with the Friends of Danesbury Park / Danesbury Residents Association.

The Friends of Danesbury Park is currently a small volunteer group comprising some half dozen local residents. The work party leader has received training in leadership and first aid enabling the group to work un-supervised by the council’s Landscape Officer. It is intended that at least two or three work parties will continue to be held each year including one for scrub management and another for tree planting / maintenance.

It is hoped that at least one guided walk for local residents, and involving the grazier, may be organised during the new plan period if staff resources allow.

Local residents will continue to be advised of any major work on the reserve on the council’s website, by brief articles in the residents’ association newsletter and on-site notices.

9.0 PLAN REVIEW

It is expected that routine site management will proceed on a year by year basis, therefore plan review is not considered to be necessary more often than every five years. 1. TO CODICOTE 3. Welwyn Footpath 039

15. Old End Wood 9. B656 17. Danesbury Park

7. Pond

NOT UNDER 20. River Mimram WELWYN HATFIELD OWNERSHIP 11. The Fernery

13. North Ride Spinney

24. Singler’s Marsh 22. A1(M)

Danesbury Park and | Welwyn Hatfield Council N

5. TO WELWYN Aerial photograph reproduced under licence from Google Earth Pro 28.

7. Annual work  Tree safety work undertaken annually by tree contractor 13. Existing fence line  Perimeter paths are mown by contractor?  Friends of Danesbury undertake small-scale path maintenance, tree planting, scrub management and species monitoring. Management of woodland areas to  Ragwort control undertaken annually by contractor include high forest management and 8. rotational coppicing of the southern 9. woodland edge 10.

19. Tree planting thinned. Fence line around tree planting removed to allow cattle to graze between trees.

5. Scrub management through coppicing

17. New fenceline installed with kissing gate for walkers to access field

15. Ungrazed grassland outside the grazing area cut for silage in late summer / 3. New fence line around early autumn by contractor perimeter, leaving space for walkers between fence and boundary 1. Rare breed cattle grazing Park Field Management | Danesbury Park between April and October N

Aerial photograph reproduced under licence from Google Earth Pro 22. N Fernery Field Management | Danesbury Park

4. Tree planting with Common Aerial photograph reproduced under licence from Google Earth Pro Lime and English Oak, protected by tree tubes and 2. cattle-proof post and rail guards 8. Rare breed cattle grazing Young parkland trees. between April and October Failed trees to be replaced

Fernery restoration is illustrated on separate map

6. New field gate access installed

15. Ungrazed grassland outside the grazing area cut for silage in late summer / 17. Annual work early autumn by contractor  Tree safety work undertaken annually by tree contractor 13. Scrub management through coppicing  Friends of Danesbury undertake small-scale tree planting, scrub management and species monitoring.  Ragwort control undertaken annually 11. New fencing and kissing gate installed by contractor 18. 19. 20.

9. Field gate access

13. Large Holly now in need of some reduction

11. Stile entrance to Fernery

7. Metal paling fence around perimeter now in a state of disrepair. Poles from original entrance bent over. 5. Outgrown Holly mixed with Elder and Hawthorn scrub around perimeter 15. Nettles and ruderals throughout obscuring pulhamite and rabbit holes, particularly in summer 3. Slope down into dell around edge. Submerged pulhamite and dropping well in centre

1. Large Laurel

Plan of The Fernery as existing | Danesbury Park N

20. DRAWING NOT TO SCALE 18.

17. Carry out remedial work to make safe mature trees. Removal of elder and thorn scrub 30. Restore the estate railings around the throughout, including those growing through perimeter of the dell with replica fencing the pulhamite. for 10m either side of entrance, and 18. Estimated cost: £3,000 traditional estate railings around the rest. 31. Estimated cost: £17,880 38. Reduction of existing Holly trees and 27. Install field gate and construct new plant new varieties of Holly in small entrance feature. Install kissing gate to the groups around perimeter of dell south for pedestrian access. 28. Estimated cost: £2,500 23. Clear site by scraping back nettles and spraying. 8. Reduce existing Hollies, remove scrub 24. Estimated cost: £3,000. and plant bank with blocks of new Holly 25. Control nettles using herbicide and species around the site perimeter. Mulch regularly strim to keep dell open. Hollies. Estimated cost: £450. 9. Estimated cost: £3,708 20. Import top soil and sow base of dell 15. Reduce Laurel with wildflower mixture. 21. Estimated cost: £2,496 12. Install steps to reach lower level of dell with safety handrail. 13. Estimated cost: £660 34. Raise canopy of trees on southern side to 4. Create crushed concrete path from entrance to viewing area clear restored estate railings (included in for an interpretation board at top of steps. remedial tree work price). 5. Estimated cost: £1,344 (excluding interpretation board) 6. Retain Hawthorn1. Remove stock fencing to allow cattle to graze up to the railings. 2. Estimated cost: £660 Restoration of The Fernery | Danesbury Park N

36. DRAWING NOT TO SCALE 41.