Big Spring Clean 2017 a huge success!

This years Big Spring Clean held on the 4th March has yet again proved popular with adults and children. The Common is now much tidier and cleaner thanks to the hard work of all those who came along.

167 people spent a total of 300 hours litter picking on a chilly but bright Saturday morning. A huge 82 bags of litter were collected plus many other items, including 3 cones, a car exhaust, 2 wheels and various bits of scrap metal.

Thank you to all of the badge groups, leaders and members of the public who gave up their time to help. This event always proves popular with the local community and is a huge help to the Yateley Ranger team.

Litter picking is something that anyone could get involved with at any time of year, if you would like to give us a helping hand with keeping Yateley Common tidy please contact us at 01252 870425 or northern.sites@hants.gov.uk

 

Yateley Common Diversion Order – proposed changes to the rights of way network

YATELEY DIVERSION ORDER

What is the effect of this Order?

Following discussions with local users, Hampshire County Council proposes to make changes to the rights of way network that crosses Yateley Common. The proposed changes will extend the network, whilst also making it easier to use. They will also provide safer crossing points across Vigo Lane. The County Council believes these changes will improve experience for all users. They should also assist with the ongoing management of important habitats and species.

As part of these proposals, Hampshire County Council has made the Diversion Order (link below). If confirmed, it will divert the legal line of several public rights of way onto paths that are in public use today. The goal is to enhance the network by making it safer and easier to use. It is also to preserve the integrity of this nature conservation site of international importance.

Yateley-Common-Diversion-Order

For further information, frequently asked questions, or for a copy of the Order please visit the County Council website at www.hants.gov.uk/publicnotices

For further information please contact the Countryside Access Team at row.notices@hants.gov.uk, or on 01962 847096.

A member of the Countryside Access Team will be available at Yateley Library on 20^th February 2017 between 10am and 1pm to answer any questions about the proposals.

 

 

 

(This statement does not form part of the Order)

 

Proposed changes to rights of way on Yateley Common

Hampshire County Council is proposing to resolve anomalies affecting public rights of way. If confirmed, a Diversion Order will divert the legal line of several public routes that cross Yateley Common. Many of these routes have not existed on the ground for a considerable period of time. In contrast, most of the proposed routes are already in use or, through minor works, can be created.

This proposal affects parts of the common designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Site of Important Nature Conservation (SINC). These designations help to protect the site’s important habitats and the wildlife associated with them. Reinstating many of the recorded routes would have a negative impact on these designated areas and in fact, some of the new routes may help to minimise disturbance.

Vigo Lane is a busy road used by many vehicles including lorries and HGVs, and is currently crossed by public rights of way at six locations. The proposed changes would halve this number and would provide safer crossing points for users and vehicular traffic.

The Diversion Order is due to be made on Friday 17th February, so look out for more information over the coming days and weeks.

Anyone seeking further information regarding this process is welcome to contact Countryside Access Team on 01962 847096  or by email at row.notices@hants.gov.uk .

 

Big Garden Birdwatch 28 – 30th January 2017

The big garden birdwatch has been going since 1979, so the RSPB have 37 years of information to compare and look back on. To help them get even more information about how birds are doing, you could get involved and spend just an hour of your time watching the birds in your garden this weekend. It’s a great way to spend a bit of time relaxing and to get children engaged with nature.

 A good way to get more birds in to your garden is to put some food out for them. The RSPB website has lots of suggestions for the type of food to put out, and how else to attract birds and other wildlife to your garden here; https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/helping-birds/feeding/index.aspx.

 Getting involved with the birdwatch is very simple, all you have to do is register for your pack then download it, follow this link to register; https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch. The pack is clearly laid out and easy to follow. It even has a calendar with hints and tips on what to do in your garden at different times of year to help wildlife. There is also a Big Schools’ Birdwatch that children and schools can get involved with. Why not give it a go and see what you can spot in your garden this weekend.

 

 

Wyndham’s Pool dam – important bridleway repairs 14th-18th November

Earlier this year, extensive repairs were made to the Wyndham’s Pool dam structure to reinforce it. It is hoped that these works will prolong the life of the dam ensuring the pool remains an important feature for both people and wildlife to enjoy.

Before – Feb 2014

During – June 2016

After – July 2016

 

These works are so far proving successful, but further works are required to recondition the bridleway which runs along the length of the dam. The works are scheduled for next week, week commencing 14th November, where Rangers from the local Sites team will be joined by our local Access Rangers to improve the surface making it safer and more pleasant for users.

Therefore, passage across the dam will not be possible whilst we carry out the works. We will also be using a variety of machinery to carry out these works and as such we are temporarily closing the car park to allow the safe use of machinery and delivery of materials. The works are expected to last approximately 5 days and as soon as the works are complete, the route and the car park will be opened and available as usual.

We appreciate that this may inconvenience some people, but alternative parking is available at Heathlands Cemetery and the Gravel Pit and Stroud’s Pond car parks off the A30.

If you have any questions or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01252 870425 or email northern.sites@hants.gov.uk .

Many thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

 

Dementia Friends Initiative

The team recently attended training with the Dementia Friends initiative. This was to give us a better understanding of dementia and how we can help people, as individuals and an organisation.

There are many different types of dementia, which are caused by diseases of the brain. Due to the diseases being different the affect on the brain also differs. This coupled with an individuals circumstances means people are affected by dementia in a variety of ways.

Dementia Friends have 5 key messages:

1. Dementia is not a natural part of the ageing process.
2. Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain.
3. It is not just about losing your memory.
4. It’s possible to live well with it.
5. There is more to the person than the dementia.

The Dementia Friends initiative is helping to turn communities across England in to dementia friendly communities. If you would like to find out more about dementia or see how you can help, there is a wealth of information at https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/.

 

Heathland Restoration -Re-creating the open habitats of Yateley Common

The map below shows the location of the felling works around Wyndham’s Pond due to commence in mid October. The trees in this area are going to be removed in order to restore the area to heathland, recreating and reconnecting the open character and landscape of the Common. Works are part of an on-going heathland management programme and are approved and funded through Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme.

Historically, Yateley Common was an open landscape with few trees and traditional uses of the Common, such as gorse coppicing, grazing and birch cutting prevented trees and scrub from dominating the landscape. The views below show how the heath around Wyndham’s Pool would once have looked being managed in this way.

In the absence of these activities, tree removal and scrub control work is necessary, carried out by staff, contractor and volunteers alike, all working to preserve the open character of this important heathland site.

We appreciate that these works can sometimes seem quite destructive and can initially be visually unpleasant, images such as those below can often give a negative impression of the works we are completing and the end result we are trying to achieve.

Felling works

Heavy machinery

Clearing leaf litter

However, after a relatively short period of time and with some targeted follow-up management the open heathland habitats begin to flourish and species typically associated with them start to utilise the additional habitat available to them. It is hoped that within 3-5 years heathland habitats within this area will have restablished and in fact have begun to flourish.

These works are important for several reasons:

1. Lowland heathland – the type of habitat found on Yateley Common – is highly threatened, with at least 80% of lowland heathland being lost over the last 200 years.
2. To restore and preserve the open character of the landscape, which is of value to many users of the Common.
3. Many special plants, birds, insects and reptiles rely on the heathland habitats found on the Common, the species and habitat for which the site is protected and designated under UK and EU law.

If you have any queries about these works or Yateley Common Country Park in general, then please call the Rangers on 01252 870425 or e-mail us at northern.sites@hants.gov.uk.