SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

1: Executive Summary

The purpose of this plan is to provide a description of Graffham Common Nature Reserve set it in the , Local and National Policy context in order to inform consultation over future management. Management recommendations are included.

2: Policy Statements

The aim of the Sussex Wildlife Trust is: “...... to conserve the Sussex landscape, its wildlife, and habitats, and to use our knowledge and expertise to help the people of Sussex to enjoy, understand and take action to this end.” There are several relevant Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) documents including the UK and Sussex Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plans. These plans stress the importance of both maintaining the existing habitat and of expanding and linking suitable sites by restoring or recreating lost areas. The work the Sussex Wildlife Trust wishes to undertake at the Graffham Common Reserve will contribute significantly towards the National BAP targets for Heathland and the National Species Action Plan (SAP) targets for species including Marsh Club Moss and a beetle Anisodactylus nemorivagus.

Lowland Heathland This is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat with a Habitat Action Plan for Sussex.

Sussex has around 4.5% of the UK’s heathland and major targets of the Sussex Heathland HAP include: • Secure adequate long-term funding for the management of key heathlands in Sussex. 80% of key sites to have secure funding by 2015. • Restore and maintain the current extent of heathland in Sussex by appropriate management (around 3036 ha in 2004). • At least 75% of Sussex heathland to be extensively grazed by 2015. • Create at least a further 280 ha of heathland vegetation in Sussex by 2010. Establish a further 1500ha by 2055. • Restore 90% of exhausted mineral sites on suitable soils to heathland.

3: Description

3.1: General information

3.1.1. Location & site boundaries

Graffham Common Reserve is located approximately equidistant between and to the south of the A272 in the Parishes of Lodsworth and Graffham, ; Postcode is GU28 0PT; grid ref SU932196. See Map 1. The Reserve is made up of three plots; Graffham west is to the west of the Graffham to Selham Road and is 8.62 ha, Fir Toat to the east of the road is 11.29 ha and Gallows Pond is 15.89 ha totalling 35.8 ha (88.46 acres).

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3.1.2. Tenure, designations and legal obligations:

Graffham Common west was purchased by Sussex Wildlife Trust in 2009, followed by Fir Toat and Gallows Pond in 2010.

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Gallows Pond was a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the 1949 National Parks and Countryside Act but it was never renewed under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act due to the amount of conifer cover over the heathland reducing its biodiversity value. . Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)

Fir Toat and Gallows Pond and a very small part of Graffham Common West are a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) contiguous with land to the west. Site ref C76 Chichester It was recorded in 1992 as being coniferous plantation, semi-natural woodland, dry heath, wet heath and pond. The wet heath supports a Red Databook species and several notable species. West Sussex County Council intends to extend the SNCI boundary to include all of the SWT land holdings. See Map 2

Scheduled Monument (SM)

There is a bronze age tumulus (burial mound)on Gallows Hill, one of a group of 5 along the ridge. All are Scheduled Monuments (SM) covered under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This Act, building on legislation dating back to 1882, provides for nationally important archaeological sites to be statutorily protected as Scheduled Monuments. The Gallows Hill tumuli are currently recorded as being at risk due to the trees and shrubs growing on them.

Shooting Rights

Shooting rights on Gallows Pond expired on 1 st February 2010. Stalking Rights expired on 31 st March 2010. No other rights exist.

Common Land

Only Fir Toat is still registered Common Land under the Commons Registration Act 1965 (parcel CL067), the Commoner being Lodsworth Parish Council. No specific rights have been registered. See Map 3 Under the Commons Act 2006, the consent of the Secretary of State is required for the erection of any fences on Common Land, although temporary fencing can be erected to cover 10% of the Common area. The northern boundary is currently fenced just outside the common and there are remnants of fencing along the roadside boundary.

3.1.3: Management / organisational infrastructure

The Living Landscapes Officer, based in the South Down National Park Office in Midhurst is part of the reserves department at , manages the combined site and as such has responsibility for management decisions. Through the management plan the Trust’s Conservation Committee approve all work. The Living Landscapes Officer and Ecologist liaise with Officers of the South Downs National Park. The Living Landscapes Officer reports to the Head of Reserves, who oversees the Reserves Team. The Conservation Committee acts as a forum to discuss conservation policy and advises Council on scientific matters.

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3.1.4: Site infrastructure including Public Rights of Way and Access

There are several Public Footpaths on the reserve. Under s.147 of the Highways Act 1980 the Highways Authority (in this case WSCC) must give consent before any new gate or stile can be erected that obstructs a Public Right of Way. Such gates or stiles must be of a suitable design and consent may only be granted if the gate or stile is for the purpose of preventing the ingress or egress of animals. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 the public have a general right of access on foot (only) to all Registered Common Land in England and Wales See Map 4. Not withstanding the above, the Sussex Wildlife Trust has always had a policy of open access to its land. The whole of the Graffham Common Reserve is therefore open to the public on foot, although the public is encouraged to remain on the paths to minimise disturbance.

Way leaves and Private Access Rights

The Trust is not aware of any private rights across the reserve.

Fencing and Water Supply

Graffham Common West is fenced on 3 boundaries although only one of these is stock proof. Fir Toat and Gallows Pond are only fenced along the northwest boundary. There is currently no fresh water supply to the reserve.

3.1.5: Map coverage

Standard OS Maps 1:25 000 Explorer Map 121.

Important Historic Maps Mitford’s Estate Map, 1629 (Chichester Records Office MITFORD Ms998) OS First Series 1” Draft Map:, published 1808/9 • Estate Map 1830 (Chichester Records Office) • Lodsworth Tithe Map ,1841 OS First Series 6” Maps, surveyed 1874 • OS First Series Map 1/2500 surveyed 1897

3.1.6: Photographic coverage

The Sussex Biodiversity Records Centre holds an RAF air photo dated 1947 showing the extent of tree cover being far less than current day. Colour air photo 1988 and 1991 (Trust files).

3.1.7: Zones or compartments

The reserve is divided into 3 compartments as sold ie Graffham Common west, Fir Toat and Gallows Pond.

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3.2: Environmental information

3.2.1: Physical

The Soil Survey of England and Wales bioclimatic map shows the general climate of the Reserve to be ‘moderately warm’ (accumulated temperature as ‘day o C above 5.6’ of more than 1925), ‘slightly moist’ (moisture deficit 100-180 mm), unexposed (average annual wind speed less than 4.8) and hemioceanic. This means the Reserve has been experiencing warmer summers than further west but without the colder winters of further north and east.

3.2.2: Hydrology

All the compartments have higher dryer land and lower wetter land. Graffham west drains north and the rest generally draining north off Gallows Hill and east. There are some drainage channels installed to drain the land for tree planting.

3.2.3: Geology

The site is situated on the Lower Greensand and rises from the wetter low-lying areas to a maximum elevation of 63 metres above sea level. It has mostly northerly aspect with a small area on top of Gallows Hill being a more southerly aspect.

3.2.4: Geomorphology/Landform

The two sides of Graffham Common are of slightly different landform. Graffham west gently rises from 40m in the north to 55m above see level in the south. Fir Toat and Gallows pond are fairly level at 30m rising up a scarp slope to the ridge of Gallows Hill at over 60m.

3.3: Biological

3.3.1: Habitats / Communities

Lowland heathland or heath is a rare habitat globally - it is only found in north-west Europe and many of the best examples are in southern Britain (Currie 1994, Gimmingham 1992, Evans 1991, Michael 1996, Rose 1992, 1994, Prins 1993). It is a generally open habitat characterised by dwarf shrubs (woody plants not normally exceeding a metre or so in height); typically heathers of various kinds. Scrub, woodland, and acid grassland are also important components. It is confined to acid soils; the proportions of sand, clay, and peat in the surface layers and the local topography all contributing to the balance of the various vegetation types on each site. Because of the nature of the subsoil, heathland tends to have an extreme local hydrology, either “dry” (regularly subject to drought), or, where drainage is impeded, “wet”, (water logged for much of the year).

This reserve has assemblages typical of sub-Atlantic lowland heath and similar to other Wealden heaths. Common heathland plants are found within a range of heathland plant communities. Habitats include dry and wet heaths, bog, mires, open water, dry and wet acid grassland, continuous bracken, bare ground, dense scrub, semi-natural broadleaved woodland, semi-natural and plantation pine woodland. These habitats display the various stages of succession from open heath to woodland, however the site is predominantly pine plantation covering 83% of the site (30 ha). Rhododendron is a major problem on the site with the largest block around the pond covering 12.7% of the site

There have been a number of surveys of Graffham Common Reserve including a report on West Sussex SNCIs by Francis Rose 1991-2. SWT carried out a standard National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey 4 T:\Reserve Team\SWT Nature Reserves\Graffham Common\Management\Management plan\Management outline draft for consultation.doc SUSSEX WILDLIFE TRUST

in 2011 (see map 5) along with vegetation mapping under pines, and recording of mature and veteran trees. Pitfall trapping was carried out in 2009 and quadrat monitoring of specific vegetation types was carried out from 2009 to 2011 (SWT) and Common Bird Sensus surveys in 2009 and 2011. Additional records are available from the Biological Records Centre for Sussex.

Summary of important features

Nationally Scarce Communities

Heath

National Vegetation Classification (NVC) H2 habitat mainly Ling and dwarf gorse (Calluna vulgaris - Ulex minor heath) covers1.91 ha of the reserve (5% of site), but 1 ha of this is under the pine trees. Bell heather on the dry heath and Cross-leaved heath on the wetter areas are also present. A small area of Billberry grows on the dry heath in the west site. A rare ground beetle of dry heaths also occurs in this area Anisodactylus nemorivagus, a Notable a and BAP species. A Red Data Book (RDB) and Very Uncommon moss, Rusty Fork- moss Dicranum spurium is present under the pines. Adders are present.

There are old records for two plants currently found just outside the reserve on the road verges, Yellow Bird’s- nest (RDB and BAP) and Green-flowered Helleborine (Nationally scarce). It is likely that they may still be present or at least could be present again.

Mires

NVC M16 mire habitat (Erica tetralix-Sphagnum compactum wet heath) covers 0.53 ha of the reserve, all in the open, but only 0.06 ha is in ‘good’ condition. There are 1.39 ha of mire communities in total across the reserves. The Mire on the western site support an important species assemblage including Marsh Club-moss (Red Data Book and BAP species), Round and Oblong-leaved sundews. These species used to be present on the eastern site, but have now been lost along with Hare’s Tail Cotton Grass. Agonum Sexpunctatum a Notable a (Na) species of ground beetle is present on the bare peat where the Marsh Club-moss grows

Other important communities

Aquatic

The pond supports a Nationally Scarce colony of a liverwort, Violet Crystalwort Riccia huebeneriana in the draw down zone (the bare mud when the water level drops). It also supports a good variety of dragon and damselflies, including Downy Emerald, and a water beetle, Hygrotus decoratus a Nb species has been recorded in the past. The rare mosses Dicranum polysetum and Hypnum imponens have been found close to the pond but were not recorded during a survey in 2010. This may be the only site in Sussex for Dicranum polysetum (this will need rewording). Common and Green Sandpipers have been recorded feeding at the pond and a large flock of up to c200 Teal are overwintering in 2011/12 since shooting ceased in 2010. Daubenton, Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats have been recorded feeding over the pond and along some of the rides (all BAP species). Badgers, Roe and Fallow deer tracks have been seen at the pond.

Old Trees and Dead Wood

The large, old open-grown trees and associated dead wood support a good community of invertebrates, including a Na spider, Salticus zebraneus and a Nb spider, Xysticus luctuosus , a first for Sussex. This is a very rare spider, only 4th existing British site. A Na Longhorn beetle Leptura aurulenta and 33 saproxylic (dead wood feeding) beetles have been recorded from the pitfall trap surveys and ad hoc recording.

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Breeding Birds

The existing assemblage of breeding birds is not remarkable and is dominated by common species and species associated with conifer plantations such as Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Siskins were found to be present throughout the breeding season and are likely to breed there. More interesting species thought to have bred in 2011 include the red-listed Spotted Flycatcher associated with more open woodland and the amber-listed Firecrest associated with ever green trees and shrubs (in this case Rhododendron and Western Hemlock). Crossbill are heard regularly within the woodland complex and Woodcock use the wetter areas of the site in the winter. Hobby have nested near to the reserve in recent years and there are old records of Woodlark and Nightjar which are all potential future breeders.

3.3: Cultural

3.3.1: Archaeology Detailed archaeological research has yet to be carried out on the reserve however there is some information currently available. There is one Scheduled Monument on the site, a Bronze Age Burial Mound (SM ref. 20056), one of a series of mounds running along the ridge of Gallows Hill that probably date from the middle of the second millennium BC. Gallows Hill is recorded as being a site of a manorial gallows of the Liberty of Lodsworth, essentially a private estate owned by theBishops of London and exempt from all other authority. The site of the gallows is indicated on the Tithe Map (1841) and the Pitts Hill estate map (1626).

Although not on the reserve but on the adjacent south facing slope of Gallows Hill, evidence of early mesolithic activity has been found in the form of scatters of flint tools, wasters and fire-fractured flints. It is likely that these represent temporary hunting camps dating from between the ninth and the fifth millennia BC.

3.3.2: Past land use

Past evidence indicates that the site had been much more open than current day. The Burial Mounds would have been in an open landscape and designed to be visible from a wide area indicating that clearance of at least the ridge of the hill would have already have taken place by then. The earliest map available (1626) indicates that the reserve was actively used by commoners for pony, sheep and cattle grazing, turf, sand and peat extraction. The boundary of the common was marked with stone crosses, also indicating that the site was fairly open and unwooded at that time.

Cursory examination of ground features indicates that there was a banked drove road running to the west of Gallows Hill running northeast by southwest across the reserve. The common boundary bank cuts across these banks indicating that the common boundary was a later addition (possibly when the site became more wooded again). There are several features that appear to be sand or ironstone quarries with cart track entrances of post-medieval date and later WW1 and 2 features, including training slit and larger trenches and possible bomb craters.

The early OS maps show the reserve to be open common in 1808, although in 1830, there was no reference to land use, but gallows Pond is visible (but a different outline to today). In 1874, the map refers to heathy pasture and wood for the majority of the site and a sand pit below Gallows Hill (still visible today adjacent to the road) first appears. By 1897 Gallows pond is the same shape as now and the eastern site was shown as mainly conifer woodland and the west as part conifer and part heath or marsh (no key). The 1947 RAF aerial photo shows the site to be much more open than current day with fewer trees and some well worn tracks and open areas. It is possible that the timber had been harvested for use in the trenches in the First World War. Planting records show that some of the site was planted with conifer in 1910 and the majority in 1950.

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3.3.3: Present land use

Until the Trust bought the site, the site was managed for commercial forestry and was entered into a Woodland Grant Scheme. This encompassed rhododendron clearance, ride widening and thinning. Glade creation to restore some of the heathland had been carried out with the Sussex Wealden Greensand Heaths Project in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Scrapes were also carried out in the marsh club moss area of the western site in the SNCI. Since the Trust purchased the site, monitoring and invasive species control has been carried out.

3.3.4: Past management for nature conservation

The main management for nature conservation was carried out under the Woodland Grant Scheme and Heaths Project as described above.

3.3.5: Past status of the site

15.6ha of the Gallows Pond site was designated SSSI in 1954, but was not renotified after the 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act due to pine birch and rhododendron encroachment on the heathland. It was registered as an SNCI along with Fir Toat in recognition of the remnant heathland flora and fauna.

3.3.6: Present legal status of the site

Fir Toat is registered Common with no active commoner’s rights. Fir Toat and Gallows Pond sites are SNCI and a small part of the western site (club moss area) is SNCI. The whole site is within the South Downs National Park.

3.4: Current public use & interest

3.4.1: Public interest / relationship with local communities

Historically access to the site has been via public rights of way (footpaths and bridleway) and is generally quite low. In 2000 under the Countryside & Rights of Way Act (CROW) the public gained the right of access on foot within Fir Toat Common. A new Officer responsible for the reserve was appointed in spring 2011 and during 2011 the Trust has run a series of walks and talks in the area to raise the profile of the reserve and understanding of its special qualities. Relationships have also been formed with the two Parish Councils and the local Graffham Downs Trust and neighbours. The Trust is keen to maintain public interest and form successful working relationships with local communities. A public consultation on management recommendations is planned for 2012.

3.4.2: Access & tourism

There is one bridleway and two public footpaths running across the eastern site and one footpath along the edge of the western site. There is no car park so users are either local or park in informal lay-bys along the roadside. Until the Trust purchased the site horse riders used the tracks under permit. It is hoped that this can be re-instated. There is a local campsite less than a kilometre away and the site could be promoted more.

3.4.3: Current interpretation provisions

There are only SWT notices on the main gateways and information on the Trust’s website regarding the site. There is a programme of walks on site and local talks are proposed for early 2012. Articles have been published in local Parish Newsletters and the Trust Magazine.

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3.4.4: Current educational use

Graffham & Duncton CE Junior Schools have carried out children’s activities on site for a couple of years and it is planned to carry out more formal educational walks lead by the SWT Education Team and reserve manager in 2012.

3.4.5: Current research use & facilities

There are no site facilities. The Trust’s Ecologist is supervising site monitoring and more research would be encouraged.

3.5: Landscape

Graffham Common falls within the Heathland mosaic category of landscape character as defined in the Sussex Downs Landscape Assessment (1995).

Characteristic features include: • Irregular patchy landscape mosaic of oak – birch woodland, conifer plantations, open heath and Common land. • Dense regenerating woodland thickets surround most open areas and are actively encroaching onto adjacent land. • There are few roads; these are generally straight, often dead-end lanes and tracks lead onto heathland from small settlements on its periphery. • Ancient earthworks and banks.

Lowland heath is one element within the heathland mosaic landscape which has been defined using visual rather than ecological criteria and so includes Graffham Common Reserve, which has visual significance in the wider landscape.

Extensive tracts of heather heathland only occur on such sites, which are actively managed to conserve an open heathland habitat. Open patches of bracken fringed by scattered birch trees and dense regenerating woodland are typical. The conifer plantations and straight roads give some hard edges but the visual structure of other areas is governed by natural rather than man-made forces.

Graffham Common Reserve is strategically important in the landscape due to its proximity to Lavington Common to the east (approximately 1/5 km away) and Ambersham and Heyshott Commons to the west (approximately 1/5km away).

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3.6 Management Recommendations

Based on the ecological, landscape, archaeological and cultural records for the site, the following management recommendations are being made:

Pine Clearance • Up to 70% of the pine plantation to be felled. The plantation has now reached maturity and harvesting it would let more light in allowing heather regeneration to occur. It would reduce pine needle (ie nutrient) build up, help prevent the wet mires from drying out and open up the historic views and landscape. • Importance of large old trees and retention of a range of ages of younger pines needs to be stressed to maintain an interesting landscape and a mosaic of different habitats within the heath. • The mainly deciduous woodland to the west of Fir Toat should not be felled as it already supports a wider range of species and habitats. • It’s suggested that felling takes place in three stages across the three compartments.

Litter Scraping • As much litter to be scraped as is practicable. Litter scraping is the removal of the built up vegetation including mainly pine needles and bracken that can take a long time to break down. This nutrient build up allows more vigorous invasive species such as rhododendron, bracken, bramble and birch to take over from the heathers. Heather seeds can remain in the soil seed bank for 50 years or more, so removing this layer down to the sandy soil (with pine clearance) would allow these heathers seeds to grow. Scraping may affect some of the existing heather plants, but this affect would only be temporary as the heathers would soon return. • Avoid archaeologically sensitive areas and the steeper slopes where erosion could become a problem.

Invasive species control • Bracken should be sprayed before and after felling as it is species poor and readily overshades the heathers, mosses and lichens. • Shallon and Rhododendron are both introduced alien species and need to be tackled as soon as possible as they are very invasive, block out light and support almost no other species.

Wetland scraping • The very good mire on the far west of the Reserve and overgrown mire to the east (in Fir Toat) will always need some shallow scraping on a rotation to maintain some bare ground to support the sundews and marsh club-moss.

Grazing • Introduction of extensive grazing by suitable livestock. Extensive grazing means having a low number of animals over as wide as area as possible. Choosing the right animals at the right stocking rate would help to create an intimate mosaic of different heights of heathers, grasses and bare ground, trample bracken and help to control some of the birch and pine regeneration. • Control of woody regrowth needs to be factored in to the plan from the outset. Livestock alone will not control birch and pine regeneration. • Traditional Breeds of cattle are suitable due to their grazing habits. Hardy pony breeds should also be considered.

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3.7: Bibliography

Andrews, J & Rebane, M. (1994) Farming & Wildlife: A Practical Management Handbook, RSPB. Bracken Control (1995) EN Lowland Heathland Management Series. Brandon, P.F. (1974) The Sussex Landscape Brandon, P. & Short. B, (1990) The South-East from AD 1000, Longman Ratcliffe, D. (1979) A Nature Conservation Review, NCC. Site Management Plans for Nature Conservation - A Working Guide (1988), NCC. Iping and Stedham Common LNR Management Plan (2008), SWT/SDJC. Edwards, M. (1993) An Entomological Survey of the Remaining Heathlands of W. Sussex, WSHF. Edwards, M. (1994) Management of Bare Ground for Invertebrates, EN. Edwards, M. (1998) Monitoring of Bare Ground for use by insects. Day, D. et al., (1994) An Interim Herpetological Survey of the Remaining Heathlands of West Sussex, WSHF. Fire Prevention and Control (1995) EN Lowland Heathland Management Series. Gimmingham, C.H. (1992) Lowland Heathland Management Handbook , EN. Kirby, P.J (1992) Habitat Management for Invertebrates: A Practical Handbook, JNCC. Lake, Bullock, Hartley, 2001 Impacts of livestock grazing on lowland heathland, EN research report 422 Pickess, B., Burgess, N., Evans, C., (1989) Heathland Management at Arne, Dorset, RSPB. Rose, F. (1992), A Report on the Remaining Heathlands of West Sussex, WS Heathland Forum. SMR: County Sites & Monuments Record, West Sussex County Council Planning Dept. Sussex Downs AONB Landscape Assessment (1995) Report Series No.7, SDCB.

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