Page 7 - Wildlife News August 2019
P. 7
Loppersa: vt oGlruenetnehearsmclCeoamr smcrounb.
(SOPHIE FENWICK)
sSuocmheacsoDvaerrtifsoerdsswenartbiallefro. r birds
(RICHARD STEEL/2020VISION)
Burning stands of gorse Adder.
this February. (alex cruikshank)
(ROGER STACE)
Why (some) scrub matters
It’s not all scrub bashing. Many species rely on scrub for
shelter, food and nesting opportunities. Birds like blackcap,
willow warbler and nightingale thrive in scrub, so it’s
important to keep a proportion of scrub on any nature
reserve. We do this by allowing cut scrub to regrow into
dense stands, diverse in wildlife.
A south-facing scrub edge alongside shorter heather
soon warms up in the sun and offers somewhere to shelter.
This type of scrub is ideal for basking adders, providing
both warmth and a place to hide from danger.
It’s a joy to work alongside hard-grafting volunteers on a there is a balance to be struck between opening up heathland and
crisp winter’s day to cut birch on Greenham and Crookham grassland for species such as woodlark and ensuring enough dense
Commons, fire burning and flask of hot soup waiting for lunch. gorse cover for birds like Dartford warbler and stonechat.
There’s real satisfaction to be had in stepping back at the end
of the day to admire the newly cleared heathland ready for the Burning desire
heather and associated wildlife to thrive.
Much of this gorse removal is achieved through mechanical
Gently does it cutting and mulching, but earlier this year we trialled burning
stands of gorse for the first time. The burning was focussed on tall,
To clear scrub on a large scale there is always the option of over-mature gorse, which has less wildlife value. Some of it will
chainsaws or brushcutters and tractor-mounted flails or mulchers. re-grow into thicker stands that support a great diversity of wildlife.
They do a speedy job but come at a greater cost and with an Burning is far more cost-effective, though there are obvious risks
increased risk of disturbance. One example where large machinery associated with starting fires on a nature reserve! To minimise the
wouldn’t be appropriate is on the small heathland reserve of Decoy hazard all burning was carried out by trained staff working with the
Heath, where a population of rare adders exists. Here we deliberately local fire brigade. Burning like this does not contribute to climate
leave areas of scrub for summer cover and hibernation below change because the gorse absorbs as much carbon dioxide over its
ground in winter. Large machinery could have dire consequences. lifetime as it releases when burnt.
Gorse is an important component of the wide heathland Scrub removal is an efficient way to maintain habitat but scrub
expanse of Greenham and Crookham Commons but in places it will always grow back from roots or seeds so it isn’t long before
dominates to the detriment of other wildlife, especially ground we’re back out on the task. By managing the level of scrub on our
flora on the acid grassland. For the past five years BBOWT has nature reserves BBOWT continues to ensure a diversity of habitat
carried out extensive cutting of gorse to reduce its extent. But structure for wildlife.
Wildlife news / August 2019 7
