THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE CONSERVATION MAGAZINE Number 41 • 2012 THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE CONSERVATION MAGAZINE OF DEFENCE CONSERVATION THE MINISTRY Operation Nightingale Rehabilitation on the Number 41• 2012 MOD estate Operation Auk What a difference 20 years makes Conservation on a shoestring at RAF Boulmer DEFENCE INFRASTRUCTURE ORGANISATION CONTACTS Conservation Group Secretariat Defence Infrastructure Organisation Editor Environmental Advisory Services Clare Backman Photography Competition Secretariat maintains the long-term strategy Building 21 for the estate and develops policy on estate Westdown Camp Designed by management issues. It is the policy lead for Tilshead Aspire Defence Services Ltd sustainable estate. The Directorate is Salisbury SP3 4RS responsible for Sanctuary Magazine. Multi Media Centre Tel: 01980 674704 Defence Infrastructure Organisation EAS Natural Environment Team Editorial Board Secretariat Julia Powell (Chair) Westdown Camp Kingston Road Tel: 01980 674820 Pippa Morrison Sutton Coldfield B75 7RL Tel: 0121 311 2232 Pragati Baddhan EAS Historic Environment Team Ian Barnes Westdown Camp Land management, including agriculture Tel: 01980 674718 Editorial Contact and forestry, public access, byelaws and Town and Country Planning EAS Sustainable Development Support Defence Infrastructure Kingston Road Westdown Camp Organisation Sutton Coldfield B75 7RL Tel: 01980 674866 Building 97A Tel: 0121 311 2039 Land Warfare Centre Nature conservation, historic environment, EAS Environmental Planning Team Warminster waste, sustainable procurement, climate Westdown Camp Wiltshire BA12 0DJ change adaptation and environmental Tel: 01980 674665 Rifleman Davey Averill cleans an animal skull Email: [email protected] assessment processes excavated from the burial mound at Barrow Tel: 01985 222877 Teak EAS Access and Recreation Team Clump as part of Operation Nightingale Level 1, Mailpoint #5106 Warminster © Corporal Kellie Williams RLC Cover image credit MOD Abbey Wood Tel: 01985 222913 Marsh helleborine © Dave Thomas Bristol BS34 8JH Tel: 0121 311 2232 EAS Scottish Environmental Liaison Team Back cover image credit Rosyth Frog © Richard Witham Energy policy Tel: 01383 648042 Kingston Road The opinions expressed in the magazine Sanctuary is an annual publication Sutton Coldfield B75 7RL Defence Training Estate are not necessarily those of the Ministry of about conservation of the natural Tel: 0121 311 3734 Defence. Notwithstanding Section 48 of The Defence Training Estate is responsible for the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and historic environment on the the provision of safe and sustainable facilities 1988, the Ministry of Defence reserves the Defence estate. It illustrates how Defence Infrastructure for the delivery of military training across the the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is Kingfisher © Andrew Holmes United Kingdom. This now includes most of right to publish authors’ literary and Organisation Environmental photographic contributions to Sanctuary undertaking its responsibility for the ranges and training areas formerly This is the third year of the MOD The runner up, which can be seen Advisory Services managed by the Royal Air Force and in further and similar publications owned stewardship of the estate in the UK Conservation Group photographic on the back cover, was a charming The Environmental Advisory Services Royal Navy. by the Ministry of Defence. This is subject and overseas. It is designed for a competition and yet again we have had frog captured by Richard Witham, (EAS) provides professional ecological, to contrary agreement, which must be wide audience, from the general an excellent response with many from Catterick and Donna Nook archaeological and planning support to Headquarters Defence Training Estate communicated to the editor in writing. public, to the people who work for wonderful and interesting photos. The Conservation Groups. the MOD. EAS acts as a focal point for all Defence Infrastructure Organisation Authors’ contributions will be us or volunteer as members of the Sanctuary board and independent environmental needs and enquiries across Land Warfare Centre acknowledged with each and every Highly commended was the the Defence estate providing a dedicated Warminster BA12 0DJ MOD Conservation Groups. judge, professional photographer David publication. Maps in this publication are photograph above of a majestic team of professional experts in a variety of Tel: 01985 222862 Kjaer (www.davidkjaer.com), faced a reproduced from the Ordnance Survey kingfisher, taken by Andrew Holmes environmental disciplines. Sanctuary is produced for the MOD difficult dilemma but decided on a map, by Defence Infrastructure by the Defence Infrastructure superb photograph of a marsh from Ripon and Strensall Conservation Groups. Organisation, with the permission of the Organisation. helleborine orchid as the overall winner. controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery The beautiful image was taken by Dave Office, Crown Copyright. Sanctuary has been produced by Thomas, a member of the Penhale This years competition has been a great the kind sponsorship of the Conservation Group and fully deserves success and we shall be running the Unauthorised reproduction infringes following companies below: the pride of place on the front cover of competition again next year, so keep this years Sanctuary. your cameras at the ready! Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Licence Number GD3189G. Submissions If you would like to contribute to Sanctuary Magazine or enter future Sanctuary Awards please contact Clare Backman, Editor at: [email protected] The skeleton of a 6th century male from Barrow Clump, complete with a wooden and bronze drinking vessel onto which an iron spearhead has been placed © Corporal Kellie Williams RLC Sanctuary 41 • 2012 Sanctuary 41 • 2012 101 FOREWORD Foreword by Andrew Manley Chief Executive Defence Infrastructure Organisation I am delighted to once again have the opportunity to contribute to Sanctuary, particularly in my new role as MOD’s senior sponsor for Sustainable Development. I continue to be impressed by the range of activities undertaken by the Department to support the stewardship of the MOD estate and to sustainably manage our Defence activities. Many of you will be aware that this edition of Sanctuary comes at a time when the department is going through a period of major change. Here in the Defence Infrastructure Organisation we are at the forefront of the Transforming Defence agenda and our journey will continue for some time yet as we seek to become a world class, efficient and sustainable infrastructure provider. Developing and managing the estate for the evolving military need was a natural theme for this edition. We show how a number of sites including Defence Training Estate Tain, Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport and RAF Spadeadam are already adapting to the change in the military requirement, whilst others adapt to the challenge of prudent Andrew Manley, Chief Executive Defence Infrastructure Organisation resource use ensuring that the estate remains viable © Crown for military families, our staff and essential training, alongside its wildlife and historic value. Another requirement. It also highlights the ongoing passion excellent example of how the estate is adapting to for what I consider to be a superb and unique part changing requirements is through Operation of the government estate. I would also like to Nightingale, a project which uses archaeology to congratulate the Sanctuary and Energy Award support the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers winners and runners up - their enthusiasm and while providing them with valuable new skills drive sets a standard for others to follow. should they have to leave the Army. It is this careful Finally, my thanks go to the production and design sustainable management that shows how the team for another superb edition and to our estate estate is at the forefront of the department’s drive suppliers for their generous sponsorship. I hope you for change. will enjoy reading the 41st edition of Sanctuary The photography competition for the Sanctuary magazine. front cover has once again received excellent entries from Conservation Group members. The winning image depicts a beautiful marsh helleborine orchid taken at Penhale; it shows that the MOD estate continues to support and protect important habitats as well as delivering the Defence Sanctuary 41 • 2012 1 CONTENTS FOREWORD 1 AROUND THE REGIONS 65 Spotlight on… THE SANCTUARY AWARDS 3 Donnington, Shropshire 66 RAF Valley, Anglesey 68 DISC Chicksands, Bedfordshire 69 THE ENERGY AWARDS 7 RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire 70 RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire 71 FEATURES RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 72 Operation Auk, What a difference 20 years makes 8 RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth, 73 The Castlemartin Range Trail is buzzing 11 Cambridgeshire Project Ubique 12 RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire 74 Creating woodland to enhance military training and to 14 Penhale, Cornwall 75 celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee Predannack Airfield, Cornwall 76 Time heals, archaeology as rehabilitation on the MOD estate 16 Ballykinler, County Down 76 Dune re-profiling at Barry Buddon Training Centre 18 RAF Spadeadam, Cumbria 77 Donna Nook gets the seal of approval 20 Dartmoor, Devon 78 Faircross Plantation nature trail 22 Bovington and Lulworth, Dorset 79 Regenerating juniper on Salisbury Plain 24 Wyke Regis, Dorest 80 Vegetation studies on Salisbury Plain 25 Kirkcudbright, 81 Conservation on a shoestring 26