Hindhead Heathland Habitat Restoration

Our ambition is to create a step-change for threatened habitats, and the conditions for the return, establishment and long-term sustainability of many important species.

We will restore lowland dry acid grassland, wet and dry heath and its mixed deciduous woodland fringes; all of which are habitats and species recognised as being of principal importance for conservation under the UK Section 41 Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) 2006 Act. The NERC Act also lists species of principal importance associated with these habitats.

We will particularly focus on conservation work for specific butterflies, bats, bird and reptile species. We have been managing this landscape for many years, currently with the benefit of a Countryside Stewardship (CS) grant. The work we are proposing is additional and complementary to the CS work, and provides bespoke management specifically targeted at key Section 41 species.

We will:

• Remove invasive scrub and control bracken in key heathland locations, re-wet areas and ensure (through mechanical management and increased pony grazing) a more biodiverse mosaic of wet and dry heath. We will cultivate taller heather as micro-climates and habitat for ground nesting birds.

• Undertake bespoke tree management to improve woodland fringes, and adapt a derelict cart shed for targeted bat species, including the Greater horseshoe,

• Take advice from local species conservation groups to fine-tune work to create the habitats for a range of threatened species to thrive. For example, Silver-studded blue butterflies require areas of short heather and bare ground for their larvae. Sand lizards will also benefit from bare ground on south-facing slopes.

• Undertake actions to “slow the flow”, maintain wet heath, retain water and capture carbon, and establish natural firebreaks through scrub clearance and pony grazing. This will enable effective, long-term management of a more coherent, resilient and sustainable ecological network for future generations to enjoy.