Land > Old Berkeley Golf Course > Acid Grassland Restoration
Why?
The Old Golf Course, Jarn Field and Mathew Arnold Field are mainly undulating grassland flanked by hedgerows and woods and enlivened by patches of gorse and clumps of scrub. However, the grassland itself is mostly species-poor. The soil is very sandy, which in its natural state would carry a flower-rich and distinctive flora. Acid grassland is rare and declining and has been designated as a priority habitat for conservation. Moreover Boars Hill lies in a Conservation Target Area where habitat restoration will be most effective for wildlife. Government funding has been made available through Natural England to restore such grassland with its colourful diversity of plants and insects.
How?
A gradual five-year process is envisaged during which seed of suitable plants will be collected from local sites and hand-sown onto strips of ground prepared by machine harrowing. Seed has been collected by volunteers over the summer from areas such as the OPT land at Stockwell and Jarn Field. The strips will have to be protected by temporary fencing from the cattle grazing during their first summer till about July.
What seed?
Species which are abundant in the area can be collected locally such as tormentil, ladies bedstraw and sheep’s sorrel from Jarn Field. Other plants such as harebell and bright pink centaury will have to be bought in as they are not abundant locally. Yellow rattle will also be used, this colourful native plant is semi-parasitic on grass and weakens the sward, enabling other species to flourish
Sowing
Each year strips 5 m by 50 metres and 10 m apart will be disc harrowed in October until about half the surface is bare soil. Seed will be mixed with sand for even distribution, and hand sown.
2011 Results
We have been pleased by the initial results of the project, with key indicator species such as Birds Foot Trefoil, Lady's Bedstraw, Sheeps Sorrel, Mouse-ear hawkweed, and Parsley Pierts germinating.
On the Old Golf Course there are a lot of musk thistles (which are good and not to be confused with creeping thistles) which is good to see. We are working to reduce the creeping thistle population.
Grazing densities are being monitored as we need to keep down the ranker grasses while giving the specialist species – such as rattle – a chance to set seed.
Administration
A specialist consultant, Charles Flower, was contracted by The Oxford Preservation Trust to advise on the project which will be run by Louise Print-Lyons, an advisor to The Oxford Preservation Trust based at BBOWT. The seed collection, sowing and monitoring will be aided by Camilla Lambrick with other local volunteers.
For more information on the project and how you can help please contact Louise Print-Lyons on 01865 775476 or louiseprint-lyons@bbowt.org.uk