A local conservation
group that work towards conserving a fascinating site
Main text by
Richard Jones
Portsdown Countryside Project Officer.
Portsdown is the seven mile chalk escarpment that fills
the horizon immediately to the north of Portsmouth. The scrub and
grassland mosaic that
make up much of its southern slope is home to a wide
range of wildlife. Orchids, bush crickets and butterflies are frequently
encountered - as are the Portsdown Conservation Volunteers.
My what a view - but what are those people doing?
The
ridge of the Hill is a popular place to admire striking seascapes or take in the
pleasing scene provided by the Forest of Bere as it sweeps northwards to the
South Downs. The more observant visitors on Wednesdays and some Sundays
will also spot conservation volunteers going about a valuable task that helps
safeguard the Hill's wildlife or improves access. The picture shows volunteers
at work on 28th Feb 2002.
The PCV work closely with Portsmouth City Council's Portsdown Hill Countryside
Service which is based at Fort Widley - one of the Victorian hill forts that
dominate the Hill. A major aim of the volunteer group is to return large
expanses of Portsdown to species-rich downland at the expense of scrub and rank
grass that is spreading fast. Most people who have had anything to do with
conservation work in the past will instantly realise this is a recipe for
endless scrub bashing. For those reluctant to tackle dense hawthorn stands there
are some points to bear in mind. Whilst it is true that 'justifiable aboricide'
(
scrub
clearance) is a regular feature of our winter task programme, it is reassuring
to know that the work is done in conjunction with grazing. The reintroduction of
cattle and recent trials of goats means that scrub tends not to grow back (they
eat it) and there are cattle round up tasks to look forward to.
The PCV get stuck into anything
Of course, it is not all chopping down prickly bushes for the PCV. Haymaking
tasks add diversity to local meadows. Hedge-laying and hedge-planting regenerate
lost habitats on adjacent farmland. Paths, stiles and gates are built to
improve access. We have cleared tons of choking silt from Hookheath pond,
without finding a single trace of the horse or cart, or indeed the driver that
allegedly sank there.
Volunteering takes many forms
As with any group that concentrates its efforts in a distinct locality there are
opportunities to monitor the benefits that conservation work bring.
Volunteers carry out butterfly transects, insect and bird surveys as well as
recording the effects of grazing on the vegetation.
The PCV meet every Wednesday and one weekend a
month, call 023 9238 9623 for more information or come along to the east gate of
Fort Widley next Wednesday at 10.
Pictures of Conservation Volunteers at Work
Work on 6th July
In these pictures work is being undertaken to replace a stile with a kissing gate. The pictures show the site on our arrival in the morning, work in progress on putting in new posts and at the end of the day a new box strainer and posts to take new fnecing before dismantling the stile.
We were working in early July 2011 on restoring the habitat after the
Electricity people had been working on their pylons.
On 1st December 2010 we were renovating fencing originally installed using holm oak posts.
These have proved to be unsatisfactory and are being repla
ced. Notice we
work in all weathers!
Grazing is the best way to manage the grass sward if we want species rich down land but cattle droppings tend to enrich the soil encouraging rank grass and more vigorous plants. So we try to clear the poo! It is not as bad a job as you might think.--
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