Management and maintenance of LWA
Management and maintenance of LWA
This forms part of our management policies for LWA.
1. We will not engage in "tidying up", on aesthetic grounds. If practicable and not presenting a hazard to visitors, fallen wood and timber will be left to lie or, if necessary, moved to another suitable location. This will encourage the growth of populations of invertebrates, fungi and micro-organisms.
2. Similarly, we will not fell or lop old trees on grounds of supposed `unsightliness'. Even when apparently defunct, they are still useful. They provide a home for many species of invertebrates that specialise in living in and on dead wood. Standing dead trees are valuable also to several species of bird, including woodpeckers, nuthatches and treecreepers, and to bats.
3. If a tree presents a hazard to visitors, we will do the minimum amount of surgery needed to avert undue public risk. If lopping or felling is necessary on a tree or shrub that we planted within or on the boundaries of the Wildlife Area, we should use a contractor who is a member of the Arboricultural Association. (Pre-existing trees or shrubs are the responsibility of Tandridge District Council, under the management agreement made with them in 2002.) There may be a case later for coppicing or pollarding some trees, to prolong their life and allow them to continue supporting resident communities of flora and fauna.
4. Where possible, and where we own them, we will lay hedges by hand. We will not use flail cutters, for amenity and conservation reasons. They promote 'leggy' growth and reduce the wildlife value of a hedge compared with other methods of trimming. We may use other types of mechanical cutter where we think it relevant. Cutting will take place in the autumn and winter, after birds have finished nesting, and before the end of February, when nesting usually starts.
5. We will cut the grass next to the hedges (the headlands) in the two fields once a year or less often. In agreed places, we will cut it every two or three years to encourage the short-term growth of biennial and perennial plants and to minimise the disruptive effects on resident communities.
6. We will cut the grass once or twice a year in the main part of Bloomer's Field and the border of Jenner's Field. The second or only cut will be in late summer, after the herbaceous species have shed their seed. Decisions on this, and on mowing the headlands, will be made by the full committee or devolved to the Planning and Works sub-committee.
7. We will clean hedge bottoms and ditches only in small sections at a time, over a two to three-year rotation, to allow resident populations to recover. We will manage ditches one side at a time, for the same reason, while not increasing the steepness of their sides.
8. We will not use poison, traps or synthetic chemical agents, such as herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, except by decision of the full committee. The representative of Surrey Wildlife Trust must be among the members agreeing. The conservation value of these measures is usually negative and some will present a danger to visitors.
9. We will not use synthetic fertilisers. Some natural fertilisers, such as bonemeal and manure, are permissible as aids for new plantings.
10. We will continue our agreed practice of not putting labels on trees (except for Tree Trail numbers) or putting dedicatory indicators anywhere other than on maps. [6]
11. We will keep routine maintenance of the pond and wetland to a minimum, to avoid disruption to the plant and animal communities in it. If it proves necessary, we will cut back invasive marginal species, such as Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus), during the autumn or winter months.
12. We will remove as soon as possible any alien aquatic plants, as listed in Schedule 5, and any aggressive or predatory animals that may be introduced, such as Terrapins. We will deal with any deleterious algal growths, such as Blanket Weed (Cladophora spp.).
13. We will consider dredging only where severe silting has taken place. This will require a committee decision, as in Schedule 2 trees and shrubs.
14. We will continue our existing programme of surveys of plant, bird and insect species, so long as volunteers can be found to do them. As well as their educative and promotional value, they provide a valuable guide to the success or otherwise of our management efforts.
15. We will make our planting and management policies public and be prepared to explain them.
Note
6. This is consistent with the guidelines for urban fringe land set out in Part II, Landscape Strategy, of the Surrey County Council report cited above. On page 82 it says: “Sites should avoid small scale clutter such as signs, seats, litter bins and picnic tables where these will detract from the appearance of a site giving an urban rather than rural character.”
This is consistent with the guidelines for urban fringe land set out in Part II, Landscape Strategy, of the Surrey County Council report cited above. On page 82 it says: “Sites should avoid small scale clutter such as signs, seats, litter bins and picnic tables where these will detract from the appearance of a site giving an urban rather than rural character.”Earlier, the report refers to “the degraded landscape visible round the edge of Lingfield and elsewhere.” We need not make this landscape worse and are trying to make it better.