Conserving Herefordshire’s Common Land...

Community Commons is a project run by the Trust that aims to work with local landowners, commoners and stakeholders and increase their awareness of wildlife on commons and their involvement in its conservation.

A generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund underpins the project, with additional funding obtained from the Trust, English Nature and the Herefordshire Council.

Why the interest in the Commons?

Herefordshire’s commons support a significant portion of the County’s most important wildlife. There are twelve commons that are a part of the project:

• Cefn Hill
• Vagar Hill
• Climbing Jack
• Ewyas Harold
• Garway Hill
• Yatton Hill
• Merbach Hill
• Brimfield
• Wyson
• Badley Wood
• Herrock Hill
• Hergest Ridge

These commons have been selected because of their significant wildlife and habitat values, and because of the potential threats to these values. They have also been selected because of historic community support for the project and the potential to significantly improve their wildlife value.

Open larger Community Commons Map (pdf)

What does the project involve?

Phase One of the Herefordshire Community Commons Project began in October 2005 and ran for 18 months until May 2006. This period formed the Development Phase of the project, helping local communities produce management plans for the 12 commons. These management plans have primarily tackled wildlife conservation issues. Where possible the project has also tried to incorporate other issues but only where these are relevant to the successful long-term management for wildlife.

During the Development Phase, two full-time Community Commons Project staff worked alongside the stakeholders of each common to help give everyone the opportunity to participate in the development of the individual management plans. The involvement of individuals is voluntary, but is crucial to the success of the project.

                 

Phase Two of the project began in January 2007, when funding was made available for a further three-years until December 2009. This period formed the Implementation Phase of the project, helping local communities put into practice the management plans. This phase of the project has paid for a machinery ring to manage invasive bracken and gorse, and training for the local community to use this equipment. Wildlife interpretation, remedying access difficulties, and reinstating sufficient grazing levels on the commons are other actions that have been carried out by the project.

An extension for the project has been agreed until December 2010, during which project staff will ensure plans are in place to support the wildlife management of the 12 commons into the future.

» For more information contact Sam Durham at Herefordshire Nature Trust. Phone 01432 356872.

Funders

The Community Commons project is joint funded by English Nature, Herefordshire Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and Herefordshire Nature Trust.