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08/02/2013 10:36: Upton Heath Restoration Project Update

 

 

The project continues to be very successful as all milestones were reached for the quarter from October to December.

This Autumn saw the start of work on the central section of Upton Heath leased from the Rothchild Estate in 2011. This area is in need of extensive restoration as the heathland has become grown over with large trees and scrub. Contractors have undertaken some major tree clearance work, doing a fantastic job in difficult working conditions to open a significant block of heathland. Whilst the larger trees were being tackled by contractors, smaller scrub has been no match for the DWT regular Thursday volunteer work parties and numerous corporate and college groups, who have cleared a significant area.

Parts of the heath that were affected by the fire are also still being tidied up. One area in particluar, just below a neighbouring property has been cleared witrh the help of trainees on the Skills for the Future training programme and the Thuirsday work party. Huge inroads have been made in this area, restoring heath and also creating an area of lower fire risk around the property.

Overall, volunteers carried out roughly 500 days of work from October to December.

Contractors have cut fire defendable lines in the heather and gorse, to enable easier access for fire control. The cuttings from this have been transferred to SITA UK's adjacent landfill site to use in heathland re-creation works as areas are restored. 

Burnt out bikes/ vehicles and other eyesores have also been cleared from "The Pits" area, which is heavily used by cyclists and occasionally motorbikes. One section has been turned into a pond, to deter the use of bikes of all types, by digging a ditch and bank. This seems to be effective, however further expert advice has been commisioned before proceeding with additional work.

All of the ponds on the heath have been mapped, an inventory produced and work plans for relevant ponds identified. Pond restoration work has commenced ahead of the planned programme, with 1 pond cleared of shading vegetation. Further work is planned on a second pond complex which will benefit both the wildlife and visitors to the heathland.

In addition further access works have been completed with boardwalks installed on wet areas to avoid people trampling over ever enlarging areas as they try to avoid the churned up ground  

 

 

 

 

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20/07/2012 12:56: Upton Heath Restoration Project Update

The £119,778 funding from the SITA Trust to help the restoration of Upton Heath and the £50,000 from the public appeal is already being put to good use.

Annual surveys for heathland plants and animals have been started with volunteer involvement and training, including birds (Dartford Warbler, Nightjar), reptiles (all 6 British species), dragonflies and butterflies (including Silver Studded Blue).

Specialist training has also been given in pond survey to volunteers and staff which has led to a new pond project carried out by volunteers with support from the Project Officer Andy Fale. Initial work has been carried out to map ponds locations across Upton Heath using a Global Positioning System (GPS).

The fencing of Upton Heath is nearly complete and three rare breed animals were put out to graze on the heath on the 11th July. They will help to keep invasive species such as grass in check to allow the more slow growing heather to regenerate on the areas burnt in the heath fire last year.

In addition fire access plans have been discussed with Natural England and a route and methodology agreed.

An Upton Heath Restoration launch event was held on the 19th May. Annette Brooke MP, Nigel Webb DWTChairman , Dean Broadhurst , Senior Site Manager for SITA UK and Andy Fale launched  the project. The launch received good coverage in the Bournemouth Echo and excellent support from the local community.

If you would like to volunteer to help Dorset Wildlife Trust on Upton Heath, please contact the wardens on 01202 692033 or visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering.
 

11/05/2012 10:38: Funding boost for Upton Heath restoration

The community and wildlife lovers in Dorset are today celebrating the news of a £119,778 funding boost from SITA Trust to help restore Upton Heath after the devastating fire last year. This is in addition to money raised by public appeal, which totals over £50,000 and has been instrumental in achieving this funding award.

Following the blaze, which swept through a third of the heath, work begins to bring the area back to a good condition for the extremely rare wildlife that depends on the priority UK Biodiversity Action Plan habitat. The project will focus not only on the burnt area but on restoring a recently acquired section of the heath, which is urgently in need of management work following years of invasion by pine, birch and some non-native species.

Andy Fale, Upton Heath Restoration Project Officer, said: "We are on the threshold of a very exciting period for Upton Heath, thanks to this funding and the generous donations of the public. We and the local community have an opportunity to restore the damaged and degraded habitats and bring the whole heath together as a 500 acre site of unbroken prime wildlife habitat, something that we can all take pride in once again."

Jools Granville of SITA Trust said "Restoration work will include the introduction of traditional heathland grazing across the whole heath and removal of a block of invasive trees in the south-western section, as well as ongoing control of scrub, cutting of fire defendable lines, improved access and monitoring."

If you would like to volunteer to help Dorset Wildlife Trust on Upton Heath, please contact the wardens on 01202 692033 or visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering.