Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Yateley Common Management Committee Item 5

11 October, 2005

Yateley Common Site Manager's Report - July-September, 2005

Contact: Andy Davidson. 01252 874376.

1. Introduction

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

2. Fly-tipping

2.1 Several incidents of fly-tipping have occurred without any particular pattern. The majority has been bags of green garden waste in some of the car parks.

2.2 The dumping of garden waste behind and near residential areas has been an ongoing problem. To try to address this, a letter was sent to around 150 properties pointing out that this was illegal and asking for any information. The response from neighbours has been positive.

3. Fires

3.1 We have had a very quiet summer for fires until 11^th August when we had 10 fires started over two hours on the West End and Brandy Bottom Heath area. Whilst the majority of these were small a total of 4.5 hectares was lost.

4. Dumped Vehicles

4.1 These has been 3 cars and 4 motorbikes dumped on the common since June. These were removed with the assistance of Lynn Broome of Hart DC.

5. Byelaws and Signage

5.1 We have started putting up the new signs across the common and this is a considerable improvement on the old ones.

6. Rights-of-Way Review

6.1 The Rights of Way review east of Cricket Hill is now complete. Work is ongoing to get these up to a suitable standard.

7. Site Maintenance

7.1 We have received the capital codes for the track work on the common and area soon to get a date when the contractor is due to start work.

8. Invasive Plants

8.1 Amongst other works Community Service has been removing Floating Pennywort from Wyndham's Pool. This has kept this introduced in check this year.

8.2 Ragwort was pulled on the Landbank to reduce the seed dispersal to the adjoining grazing land.

8.3 An area of 4.9 hectares of heathland scrub that was cleared during the winter have been sprayed where birch re-growth was occurring and 3.45 hectares of Bracken have been sprayed this summer.

9. Effects of the Drought

9.1 After a dry winter and following spring and summer water levels have been extremely low on the common this year. Strood Pool has completely dried up stopping any use by school groups for pond dipping. However this has allowed the effective removal of any fish from the pond which should increase the number of invertebrates which children can catch next year.

9.2 The A30 Gravel Pit has all but dried up and Wyndham's Pool has been lower than any of the current site staff can remember. Wyndham's Pool has also had a recurring problem with blue-green algae.

10. Archaeology on Yateley Common

10.1 Carol White carried out archaeological work around Brandy Bottom heath from 13^th to 28^th August and is very please with the summers work. Carbon dating from the mound south of the Cemetery has give a date for the mound of some time in the 18^th centaury, probably indicating an association with Georgian army activity. Charcoal samples from near Wyndham's Pool have given a date in the Iron Age. Carol intends to have a display in Yateley this winter about her findings on Yateley Common.

11. Walks and Events

11.1 The series of summer walks was very successful. In particular the summer activities for children proved very popular with over 100 children attending.

RECOMMENDED:

That the report be noted.

4cR360905

Appendix

Winter Work Programme 2005/6

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

Encroachments

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

Protect site from development pressures on adjacent land

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

Minimise illegal activities

Signage to be erected including byelaws

Rights of Way Network

Work will be carried out to manage paths and bridleways

Provide education service

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

Remove eyesores

Work will be carried out as and when needed.

Protect archaeological features

Liaise with County Archaeologist and Carol White.

Create/maintain populations of important species

No activities proposed in this period

Restore heathland from scrub and secondary woodland

THH & Countryside Stewardship work to be completed

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

Carried out under THH & Countryside Stewardship

Improve quality of heathland habitats

Scrub clearance work will be carried out

Improve quality of grassland habitats

No activities proposed in this period

Reduce fragmentation of habitats