Restoration of Buckstone Common, Staunton

Buckstone Common is a c 20ha common on the edge of the village of Staunton. The common is no longer grazed and hence is reverting to secondary woodland with large stands of mono-culture bracken. A BEHTA (Baseline Evaluation of Higher Tier Agreements) habitat survey of Buckstone
Common was carried out by Natural England in 2023 and the common still contains remnants of heathland habitats and acid grassland. It also supports three of the UK’s six reptile species, notably adders, slow worms and common lizard, however the lack of open habitat on the common is threatening the long-term future of these species.

This application is part of a long-term restoration project to restore the common to a heathland/grassland mosaic while retaining some areas of woodland and areas of scrub. To achieve this, there is a need to graze the site with cattle. A trail of cattle grazing has taken place and was well
received by the local population. More significantly the grazing had a very positive impact on the grassland and heathland communities and in spring 2025 there was a significant increase in the flowering species across the common. However, the cattle trail was managed by electric fencing
and nofence collars, this is not sustainable in the long-term and this project is to improve the boundary fencing around the common to ensure cattle can continue to graze the common.