Hampshire County Council

Yateley Common Management Committee Item 5

22 October, 2002

Yateley Common Country Park - Site Managers Report - June to October 2002

Report of the Director of Recreation and Heritage

Contact: John Tickle. Ext: 6000

1. Summary

This report outlines the work undertaken at Yateley Common in the period since the last meeting.

2. Conservation

The outstanding Countryside Stewardship work near the Gravel Pit has been completed.

A hay cut was taken from the Cricketers Green.

A survey was carried out by a volunteer MSc student from Reading University, on the distribution of the solitary bee Andrena labiata and its food plant Germander Speedwell on the West End. This species of bee is the host of the Red Data Book cuckoo bee Nomada guttulata found on this part of the Common.

A Common Bird Census was carried out on the West End of the common, in part to replicate past surveys of this area and in part to train new site staff.

3. Education

School visits were up on the previous year. The figures for this year so far are tabulated below and compared with the figures for the two previous years.

Year	2000	2001	2002
Schools	7	2	7
Other Organisations	1	1	2
Children Visiting Common	455	135	323
Children Attending Slide Talks	190	0	164
Children Attending Summer Events	0	16	100

The educational resources of the Common were actively promoted this year, with letters and education packs sent to all local schools. This resulted in one new school using the Common for the first time. Whilst slightly down on year 2000 it can be seen that numbers have recovered considerably from 2001, which was affected by the foot and mouth closures.

The summer events were promoted more extensively this year compared with last resulting in a significant increase in the numbers attending.

The teacher training session was attended by three teachers from one school.

4. Site Abuse

The Common has subject to considerable abuse once again from motorcycles. Although this is not entirely a recent problem, records show that concern was voiced about motorcycle activity on the Common for the past twenty years; the trend seems for the problem to be worsening.

Considerable damage is done to the Commons tracks and open areas, heath fires have been associated with motorcycle activity and a volunteer working with the rangers was threatened with physical violence. The motorcycles involved are often uninsured, unregistered or stolen.

Recent conversations with and letters from members of the local community show that it is one of the areas of most concern to local people. This is epitomised by a recent letter from a local resident stating that "Myself and the children are now too frightened to go onto the common when we hear the bikes as they speed around..." and "..it will not be long before a dog or even a child is seriously injured or killed".

Fly tipping remains a problem on the site. A recent change in legislation over the disposal of fridges and freezes has resulted in an increase in these items being dumped on site. Whilst the number dumped on the Common is not as great as may have been feared, there is still the problem of how the site staff dispose of these items.

Heath fires this year have been relatively small and localised this year but still present an ongoing problem.

The limousine business still continues to operate and the property has not yet been sold.

5. Access

Track repair work has been carried on resident's accesses and tracks within the site.

Path side vegetation has also been cut back across the common, along with sight-lines at access points onto the common.

6. Other Issues

Police involved in the Amanda Dowler investigation have carried out searches on the Common. Site staff have offered their assistance should further access or information be required.

Work has begun to prepare for implementation of the Tree Safety Inspection policy for Yateley Common.

Following an investigation of archaeological features on the area of Yateley Common south of the A30, Carol White the archaeologist in charge of this survey has visited the Country Park to look for similar features. She now wishes to do a surface survey of this area during the spring and an excavation of selected features during the summer. This would be done in consultation with English Nature, the County Archaeologist and site staff.

7. Staff and Volunteers

Tony Davis, the site manager for the past twelve years, has left to work for Butterfly Conservation.

Two students from Farnborough College of Technology successfully completed their placement working alongside site staff during the summer.

RECOMMENDATION

That this report be noted

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclosure exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE FILE

None

4cR241002

APPENDIX (B)

Winter work programme 2002-3

This programme is set out against the long term management objectives in the Yateley Common Country Park Executive Management Plan.

1. Encroachments

Land outside Heath End, Flats Road will be restored once the limousine hire business has ceased operations from these premises.

Other opportunities to address encroachments will be taken as and when they arise.

2. Protect site from development pressures on adjacent land

Ongoing monitoring of planning applications and responding to the appropriate authorities when necessary.

3. Minimise illegal activities

Efforts will continue both to clear up after problems have occurred and to seek assistance from the relevant authorities in preventing further abuse occurring.

4. Review Rights of Way Network

The process of resolving these issues is ongoing.

5. Manage paths

Work will be carried out to manage paths and bridleways. Where required work will be carried out to allow effective access for emergency services i.e. fire access.

Existing park benches will be refurbished.

6. Provide education service

All requests for educational visits will be accommodated where staff time allows.

Work will be carried out to refurbish one of the main educational facilities of the Common, its pond dipping area at Strood Pool.

7. Remove eyesores

No activities proposed in this period.

8. Protect archaeological features

Liaise with County Archaeologist and Carol White in preparation for proposed investigation spring/summer 2003.

9. Create/maintain populations of important species

No activities proposed in this period

10. Restore heathland from scrub and secondary woodland

The Countryside Stewardship work for the forthcoming year will be started.

11. Remove low quality woodland and scrub habitats on the west end of the Common

No activities proposed in this period other than Countryside Stewardship work in this area.

12. Improve quality of heathland habitats

No activities proposed in this period.

13. Improve quality of grassland habitats

No activities proposed in this period.

14. Reduce fragmentation of habitats

No activities proposed in this period.

15. Reinstate grazing

No activities proposed in this period.

16. Eliminate invasive alien species

No activities proposed in this period.

17. Protect high quality woodland

No activities proposed in this period.

18. Obtain comprehensive data on all species

No activities proposed in this period.

19. Monitor populations of important species

No activities proposed in this period.

20. Carry out research

No activities proposed in this period.

4cR241002