Totternhoe Nature Reserve Chalk Grassland Restoration

Totternhoe nature reserve lies on a chalk escarpment formerly mined for stone and lime, creating uneven ground and steep slopes with a mix of scrub and grassland that supports an impressive range of wildflowers and insects.
Grazing is essential to preserve the special character of the grassland. We need to make urgent repairs to fencing and buy a larger water bowser to continue grazing effectively. We also wish to create an additional grazing compartment in a new area, formerly part of the lime works.
We manage scrub on a rotation to prevent it dominating. This helps create ‘edge habitat’ favoured by the Duke of Burgundy. However, clematis tends to take over rapidly after scrub clearance, suppressing a more diverse flora. We urgently need to control clematis particularly in areas unsuitable for grazing.
Education people about wildlife is crucial to our mission to create a sustainable living landscape. We want to improve signage and create more opportunities for volunteering and engagement at Totternhoe.