Hedleyhope Herald ISSUE 1

Durham Wildlife Trust’s News from Craig Best New hope for Hedley Fell

You may have already Hedleyhope Fell comprises Lesser Skullcap and Stags heathland rely on active heard that Durham approximately 200 ha of Horn Club Moss. More management, such as Wildlife Trust has recently mid-altitude heathland. recently Small Pearl grazing. become the new owner of This type of heathland Bordered Fritillary Hedleyhope Fell. My grows between upland butterfly and Tree You will see very little name is Craig Best and I heath which is found Sparrows have been change on the Fell over have been employed by further up the Dale and recorded. Many of these the next year. This is the Trust to work with lowland heath at species are recognised as because it is important local people to manage Waldridge Fell. Most of priority species in Durham. that we find out what lives and improve the Fell for the site is registered as I’m sure over the next few and grows there. A wildlife and people. My common land with years other important number of local experts post has been made common grazing rights species will be discovered! will be surveying the Fell possible because of held by a few local to look for breeding and funding from the Heritage farmers. Heathland is a habitat that winter birds and Lottery Fund. continues to exist mainly invertebrates. Butterflies This habitat is important in because of grazing and and the vegetation will This is the first newsletter the region and supports a burning. Without also be surveyed. I would from the Fell. It will keep number of rare and continued management be interested to know you informed of what’s uncommon plants and heathland would change what you have seen in the going on and how you animals. They include the into scrub and then, last few years. At the can get involved in Green Hairstreak butterfly, eventually woodland. You moment we are unsure if the project. Velvet Ant, Red and Black would be correct in the Fell has many reptiles Grouse, Short Eared Owl thinking woodland is a living there. If you have Short eared owl and Skylark (inset): Darin Smith and plants such as valuable resource but seen any adders or lizards many of the plants and then please contact me. animals that exist in Craig Best What improvements are we going to make

Once we have this an access strategy to show newsletter for local people learning how to identify information then we will the best routes on site to to comment on. plants and animals will be able to produce a improve. This will not be start once access on the management plan which ready until the end of the A small car park will be Fell has been improved. will guide us on how best year. Between now and installed for visitors to the Local schools will also be to improve the Fell. The then I will be monitoring site. Both circular footpath invited to visit the Fell, to improvements will not just where people walk and routes would start and learn about their local be for wildlife but for asking walkers for their finish from the car park. environment. visitors as well. ideas. My initial thoughts The car park would also are to improve an existing accommodate a coach so The level of disturbance by Parts of the Fell have not footpath which will link that groups from local motorbikes, quads and off been grazed effectively for Tow Law and Cornsay schools can visit the site. road vehicles in recent at least 20 years. This is Colliery as a long distance years has damaged the why you can see a large walk. A circular walk on Situated in the car park Fell and disturbed wildlife. number of scattered trees, the lower part of the Fell and throughout the Fell We plan to look at ways of scrub and bracken on the and a circular walk on the there will be information keeping vehicles off the fell. Some of the scattered top part of the Fell along panels and signs which Fell to stop them trees will be removed and the B6301 where dog will tell people about the disturbing wildlife and the bracken will be walkers currently walk. Fell and help to guide walkers. The local police controlled. This will not This route will also be visitors around the site. and off road squad are happen until we have the suitable for people with already patrolling the site. information from the plant disabilities. A plan will A number of guided walks and animal surveys. Some feature in a future and opportunities for birds and butterflies need areas of trees and bracken to maitain healthy numbers.

Of course we don’t want to be doing this for ever so I will be working closely with the common holders to ensure the Fell is grazed enough in the future to stop trees and bracken taking over and to make sure the Fell is not overgrazed. Green Hairstreak Butterfly

So what about people then?

By making use of the existing public rights of way, desire lines (where people want to walk anyway) and illegal vehicle tracks, I will be drawing up Volunteers at work to prevent fly tipping Small pearl bordered fritillary, Photo: Darin Smith Volunteers removing fly tipping Volunteers on Hedleyhope Fell

Restore disturbed areas to plants typical plants to a heathland of disturbed areas Restore trees, scattered Control the fell them taking stop scrub and bracken to over benefit wildlife to is grazed the Fell Ensure and off the road Fell Keep sheep on the on the Fell footpaths Improve parking visitors for facilities Provide opportunitiesGuided walks and learning for about the Fell visitors panels and signs telling Install information their local environment learn about to visit the site to local schools Encourage motorbikes,Stop disturbing wildlife, vehicles and off road quads walkers and scarring the landscape. Improve habitats for plants and animals plants for habitats Improve

In In brief

via the contact details on the back page. Hedleyhope Fell please inform Craig Best If you have seen adders or lizards on Don’t forget!

Adder and Common lizard, Photos: Darin Smith How can you help?

Durham Wildlife Trust management, bracken then please let me Hedleyhope Herald. relies almost entirely on control and footpath know! If you have any volunteers to help maintenance. stories about the fell manage our reserves. If Alternatively, if a hands Unfortunately due to and would like them you have an interest in on approach is not your the high cost of printing included in future the future of forte then you could and distribution future editions. Hedleyhope Fell then I become a volunteer editions of this would be pleased to warden. The fell would newsletter will not go to If you own a local hear from you. There are benefit from a number everyone’s door. To business and would like a number of ways in of people patrolling the make sure you get the to sponsor future which you can get site and reporting next copy please newsletters and get involved. I am setting incidents such as fly contact me. advertising space in up a task force to work tipping, the condition of return. on the Fell. As a footpaths and generally Please contact. Craig Best volunteer you would keeping an eye on If you would like to learn new skills such as what’s going on. If you Hedleyhope Fell Wildlife continue receiving tree and scrub have any other ideas and Community Officer future editions of Map of Hedleyhope Fell Nature Reserve

DURHAM Registered Charity no. 501038

Craig Best, Hedleyhope Fell Wildlife and Community Officer Durham Wildlife Trust, Low Barns,Witton-le-Wear, , Co. Durham DL14 0AG. TEL: 01388 488728 EMAIL: [email protected]

Durham Wildlife Trust aims to conserve wildlife and to promote conservation within the County of Durham, and the Boroughs of Gateshead, and Darlington. For further information visit www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/durham