Ughill Farm – Initiation of SSSI restoration (4)

Works to be completed:

– Use mechanical control to reduce soft rush and dominant grasses, promoting regeneration of dwarf shrub heath.
– Block old braided routes and re-wet trackways using cut soft rush, bailed to prevent drainage.
– Create scrapes where necessary to enhance habitat diversity and support ground nesting birds.

Overarching aims of the works:
– Restore Furnace Hill, a designated SSSI, by reducing the dominance of soft rush and encouraging the return of dwarf shrub heath.
– Facilitate the re-establishment of ground-nesting bird populations.
– Improve the structure and biodiversity of the site by managing grazing and implementing key habitat restoration techniques.

Value to the community and/or environment:

– Enhances biodiversity by restoring important heathland habitat and supporting ground-nesting birds.
– Improves ecological resilience by addressing the overgrowth of soft rush and enhancing wetland features.
– Contributes to the long-term conservation of the site as a designated SSSI, preserving its special scientific interest.
– Provides a model for sustainable habitat management in sensitive ecosystems.