Contributed by Tony Quinn
Nature Conservation Issues in the SDBWS Recording Area
These are some of the areas that as Conservation Officer I have tried to input views on behalf of the Society. Because of newsletter space, these will appear as a short series of articles.
TOLWORTH COURT FARM
There are some very good hedgerows on this site but the management plan recommends a considerable degree of intervention over a 10 year cycle. I have made my feelings known at the Kingston Biodiversity meetings as I do not feel this will produce the correct structure for Bullfinch(red list) and Lesser Whitethroat. Again I hope for a cautious approach.
HOGSMILL SEWAGE WORKS NATURE RESERVE
Following the modernisation eight years ago Thames Water were meant to create a nature reserve to a specification provided by Crane Environmental. A huge bund of waste earth had been dumped on the site where a lagoon was to be created and the plan was never started. A revised design was put to the Borough Council and there are some signs that it may come to fruition. If so I am told our club members will be able to access some areas.
HORTON COUNTRY PARK
There is a good management plan for this site, which can be accessed on the Epsom and Ewell borough website. The only concern I have is with hedgerows. To me most of the mature hedgerows are magnificent, many have a beautifully formed canopy and huge bio-mass making them very suitable for good populations of Bullfinch and Lesser Whitethroat for instance, with maybe the chance of colonisation by Nightingale. Occasional mowing close to the hedges seems to keep them from spreading into the meadows. The management plan recommends scalloping at intervals on alternate sides, which I feel might destroy the symmetry of the canopy. I certainly feel that a cautious approach should be taken with the management of these. An interesting website, with which I thoroughly agree is that of "The English Hedgerow Trust" and many of the hedgerows in this Country Park conform to what this organisnation believes to be best.
EPSOM COMMON
Again there is an excellent management plan for this site on the borough website. Since the 1950s grassland has progressed to scrub and then to woodland. It was in the early part of this progression that the site gained its SSSI designation, but English Nature pointed out that much value was lost as the woodland developed. Some excellent and costly work has been done restoring open areas and it is still early days and as yet the scrub element has not developed as it was in the 1960s. Breeding species still include Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Linnet which has returned since the creation of the open area. In the past it also held Grasshopper Warbler, Nightingale, Lesser Whitethroat, Turtle Dove, Stonechat and Marsh Tit, most of which could not realistically return in the forseeable future.
RUSHETT FARM/PARK FARM
I am hoping to get more involved here. The farming style is very wildlife friendly and is responsible for us having Yellowhammer in our area, there are also breeding Skylark and Lapwing. Mr Woodall of Rushett farm is quite elderly and finds his beef herd too onerous and not very profitable. This will be his last herd and it might be detrimental to the bird life when they go as many winter bird flocks seem to be associated with them. He has applied for Environmental Stewardship, which has prescriptions for over-winter stubble so we will have to wait and see if this compensates for the loss of cattle.
SEETHING WELLS
My involvement with this riverside area has been to help prevent boating development further along the riverbank. Letters to the Kingston upon Thames planning department have been written. The latest scheme is to upgrade but not elongate moorings, which I do not oppose.
REDUNDANT FILTER BEDS AT HAMPTON.
These were ocupied by 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plover, 1 pair of Ringed Plover, 1 pair of Redshank and 1 or 2 pairs of Lapwing in 2000. 1 heard that Thames Water wanted to develop the site and wrote to Richmond Borough Council informing them of the species that were there. I believe planning permission was refused but not for that reason. The beds quickly became overgrown with sallow but have been occupied by Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting. Sadly there has been much scrub cleared recently as Thames Water wish to use the site for other operational purposes. After the extraction of gravel a large nature reserve is being created on the opposite side of the river on the Chelsea and Lambeth reservoir site. When complete this will more than compensate for the loss of the Hampton area.
ESHER COMMON.
A letter regarding large scale removal of pine trees as part of a restoration plan resulted in a meeting with David Page on site and some slight amendment to their plans. We were mainly concerned as the site sometimes holds good numbers of migrant finches such as Siskin, Redpoll and Crossbill.
PRINCES COVERTS.
At least one pair of Nightjars bred in 2005. 1 intend to write to Crown Properties to see if it is possible to keep suitable breeding areas over a longer period of time. It is over 40 years since they bred at this site. It has historically been the main site for Woodcock in our area.