A huge restoration project has recently seen Black Down restored to lowland heath.
Lowland heath is one of the most endangered habitats in the UK. It supports a large variety of plants, birds and insects that would not survive elsewhere, and it also offers open green space that is ideal for walking, riding and other outdoor pursuits.
Black Down in West Sussex was once open heathland, however, as with many other places, a lack of managment, in particular a lack of grazing, meant that this important habitat was lost over time. Now, thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Trust has been able to take on the restoration of Black Down.
With the help of dedicated volunteers, hundreds of acres of invasive scrub and trees have been cleared, over 6km of fencing has been put up to keep grazing cattle, and a water supply system, which uses energy efficient technology to pump water to drinking troughs without the need for electricity, has been installed.
Grazing is vital to maintain heathland; without this traditional form of management, thorny scrub and young trees would quickly take over and threaten many rare species. This spring, grazing cattle will be seen on Black Down for the first time in over 20 years.
Head Warden Dave Elliott said:
'It will be a very special day when cattle once again graze Black Down. It will also mark the culmination of a huge amount of hard, yet extremely rewarding, work. Over the next few years I think we will really see the heath come alive.'
The project has already been a real success with many rare species returning to the area including birds such as the Dartford warbler, woodlark and nightjar, plants such as the sundew, and insects such as the grayling butterfly. The magnificent views from the property have been restored and are now some of the best in the region. And the property team are particularly looking forward to the late summer months as the thriving heather is sure to cover the down with its beautiful purple flowers.
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