THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Stedham with Iping Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group November 2017 CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Site of Special Scientific Interest in Stedham with Iping Parish ........................................................................ 5 Iping Common SSSI ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Local Nature Reserve (LNR) ............................................................................................................................... 7 Local Wildlife Sites (LWS .................................................................................................................................... 8 Severals Bog ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Woolhouse Farm Meadows ......................................................................................................................... 10 Henfield Wood ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Wick Wood, Hammer Wood & Pond Copse Complex ................................................................................. 12 Quags Corner, Stedham Common ............................................................................................................... 13 River Rother ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Oakham Common ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Other important habitats ................................................................................................................................ 16 Notable Road Verges ................................................................................................................................... 16 Flooding ........................................................................................................................................................... 18 Minsted sandpit ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Dark Skies ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Note / Acknowledgement Much of the data for this report has been drawn from the records provided by the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre INTRODUCTION The Parish lies within the South Downs National Park, which was designated in 2012. This national landscape designation provides for the highest level of protection within the planning system. Stedham and Iping Parish includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest, at Iping Common, as well as eight Local Wildlife sites, and two Notable Road Verges. There is additionally a Local Nature Reserve which covers Iping and Stedham Commons and part of which is in the SSSI. In order to maintain these special environmental designations each site has to be managed in a unique and prescribed manner The Stedham with Iping Neighbourhood Plan seeks to manage our unique environmental resources so that any development is not detrimental to them and they remain in as pristine a conditions as is possible. As well as looking after our local environment the Parish can also be affected by environmental disasters such as flooding. This plan seeks to mitigate the effects which heavy rainfall can have on dwellings, particularly those adjacent to the River Rother. Wherever anyone is in the parish one environment they can experience is the enjoyment of the dark night sky. This is a Stedham with Iping Parish policy which is cherished by many residents and enshrined in our Dark Skies Policy. SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN STEDHAM WITH IPING PARISH Sites of Special Scientific Interest are areas notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as being of special interest for nature conservation. They represent the finest sites for wildlife and natural features supporting many characteristic, rare and endangered species, habitats and natural features. Notification as a SSSI is primarily a legal mechanism organised by Natural England and selected according to specific scientific criteria. The Guidelines for the Selection of Biological SSSIs, published in 1989 by the Joint Nature Conservation Council, set down the selection criteria for both biological and geological SSSIs. There are over 4,000 SSSI’s in England of which just under 150 are in Sussex. Natural England is responsible for identifying and protecting these sites. This is achieved, primarily, in partnership with SSSI owners and managers. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW) anyone who intentionally or recklessly destroys or damages any of the flora, fauna or geological or physiological features of an SSSI is guilty of an offence. They are liable, on summary conviction, of a fine of up to £20,000. One of the most important features of the parish is its lowland heathland which exists throughout its commons. Lowland heathland has become increasingly rare both in the United Kingdom and Europe and a significant reason why 307 acres, comprising Stedham Common, Iping Common, Trotton Common and Fitzhall Heath are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The citation was made in 1954, and revised in 1980, and is due to the area being ‘one of the richest examples of lowland heathland remaining in West Sussex. It is of particular interest for its invertebrate fauna, which includes several rare spiders. The site is of county importance as a breeding site for heathland birds, and is the only site in Sussex for an uncommon species of grass’. From a parish point of view the commons are widely used by residents and visitors for walking, riding, birdwatching and cycling. There are two carparks for Iping Common, and footpaths from Stedham village to Stedham Common. IPING COMMON SSSI This site, designated in 1986, includes Trotton, Iping and Stedham Commons as well as Fitzhall Heath. It is one of the richest examples of heathland remaining in West Sussex and is of particular interest for its invertebrate fauna which includes several rare spiders. The site is of county importance as a breeding site for heathland birds, and is the only site in Sussex for an uncommon species of grass. As is typical of the Sussex commons, this heathland has developed on soils derived from the lower greensand. The majority of the heath is 'dry' although there are also smaller, wetter areas. Other habitats present include woodland, scrub, grassland and two ponds in the north of the site. The site was extensively damaged by fire in 1976. Although much of the fauna was lost at the time, this has provided a rare opportunity to study the rate of heath recolonisation, and has particularly encouraged the regeneration of heather Calluna vulgaris. The majority of the heath is dominated by heather and bell-heather Erica cinerea with dwarf gorse Ulex minor also present. Where drainage is impeded on north Trotton and part of Stedham Commons this dry heath grades into a wetter heathland type where an increase in cross-leaved heath Erica tetralix and purple moor-grass Molinia caerulea is found. Where surface water is permanently present purple moor-grass becomes dominant with deer-grass Trichophorum cespitosum and heath rush Juncus squarrosus locally abundant. These areas of wet heath also support a rich moss flora which includes Polytrichum commune, Sphagnum tenellum and Dicranum spurium. Grassland is mainly confined to the rides which cross the site. Creeping and common bent grasses, Agrostis stolonifera and Agrostis capillaris respectively, dominate drier areas; purple moor-grass and soft rush Juncus effusus on wetter areas. Iping Common is the only Sussex site for bristle bent grass Agrostis curtisii, a record not verified recently. The site supports a rich invertebrate fauna. Prior to the fires of 1976 109 spider-species (Arachnida) had been recorded, including such notable rarities as Centromerus aequalis a species new to Britain, Micaria silesiaca and Prosopotheca corniculans. Amongst the butterflies there were important local populations of the silver-studded blue Plebejus argus and the grayling Hipparchia semele. The dragonflies Odonata were also well-represented. The Commons are of county importance for breeding bird’s; typical heathland species include nightjar and stonechat. LOCAL NATURE RESERVE (LNR) Iping and Stedham Commons Local Nature Reserve (LNR) which comprises all the common land south of the A272 , which is in the SSSI apart from Fitzhall Heath. It also includes some small areas of common land north of the A272, but west of Iping lane. Apart from some areas of Trotton Common both the LNR and SSSI are wholly in our parish. The land in the LNR and in the SSSI is under the management of Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) which owns the larger part of Stedham Common and has a long lease on most of Iping Common. SIPC works closely with SWT and is represented on the LNR Management Advisory Committee. Stedham Common extends to the east side