EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Ashdown Forest is an internationally and nationally important conservation area with 2.5% of the remaining lowland heathland in the UK; it is one of the largest open-access public spaces in south-east England. The area is managed by a Board of Conservators, comprising representatives of East Sussex County Council, Wealden District Council and Commoners, and a staff of 15. There are about 720 Commoners registered with Commoners’ rights, a number of whom exercise their right to cut firewood and graze animals. The government’s Biodiversity 2020 strategy for England aims to maintain and enhance biodiversity with 90% of priority habitats in favourable or recovering condition that can deliver multiple benefits for wildlife and people.1 The most recent condition assessment found that 30% of units covering 20% of the area of the Ashdown Forest SSSI were in Favourable Condition – for heathland, the priority habitat for conservation, only 7% of units were in Favourable Condition representing 10% of the heathland area.

This plan sets out the work that the Conservators will undertake in 2016-2020 to improve the condition of Ashdown Forest, primarily financed through a five-year Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Previous Higher Level Stewardship funded conservation work has produced significant improvement in scrub and invasive woodland removal but limited improvement in heathland structure, and Natural England have recommended enhancing conservation by extending grazing and removing mechanically cut material.

Sections 1 and 2 of this plan provide an introduction to Ashdown Forest and the key policies that affect its management, in particular its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a European Special Protection Area (SPA), European Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Natura 2000 site. Section 3 describes the area and its biological and cultural significance. Approximately sixty percent of the 2,500ha area is heathland, a priority habitat for conservation that occurs on acidic, impoverished, dry sandy or wet peaty soils. Lowland heathland is a priority for nature conservation because it is a rare and threatened habitat having declined greatly in extent during the last two centuries. The heathland of Ashdown Forest represents one of the largest single continuous blocks of heath and valley bog in South-East England supporting several uncommon plants, a rich invertebrate fauna and important populations of heath, woodland and other birds. Rare and threatened species such as Dartford Warbler and the Nightjar are responsible for EU status as a Special Protection Area (SPA). Ashdown Forest has been heavily exploited over the centuries by the activities of commoners (including grazing, cutting, wood collection and burning), the iron industry (including felling of trees for furnaces) and also by military activities, producing a wealth of archaeological features. Scheduled Monuments include an Iron Age Fort, Romano-British iron works and settlements and a Bronze Age barrow. Management of the Forest by the Conservators needs to emulate those extractive activities of commoners without damaging archaeological features.

Section 4 provides a summary of the recent history of conservation management and management needs for conservation. Aerial photographs from 1947 show 10% of the Forest to be wooded, compared with 40% in 2000. Most of this change has been due to the decline of commoners’ activities and without scrub control, the entire area will become closed canopy secondary woodland through the constant invasion of heath by Birch and Oak seedlings. What is clear is that woodlands have expanded at the expense of heathland. While there is no question of ‘turning back the clock’, management that more closely imitates

1 Natural England assesses the condition of SSSIs using standard methods based on a list of Special Features, and the targets against which they are measured. Field assessment of these features leads to habitat units being classed as (1) favourable (i.e. special habitats and features are in a healthy state and are being conserved for the future by appropriate management), (2) unfavourable recovering (i.e. all necessary management measures are in place to address the reasons for unfavourable condition), (3) unfavourable – no change or declining, or (4) part destroyed or destroyed.

traditional removal of nutrients by grazing or collecting plant material is today acknowledged as essential. The last twenty years have seen a range of grants, most notably Higher Level Stewardship from 2005-2015, that have supported conservation and restoration of lowland heath habitat, predominantly by reversing scrub encroachment and successional woodland development on heathland but also by developing public understanding and enabling management by grazing. Natural England acknowledges the Conservators’ heathland restoration work of scrub and invasive woodland clearance but now sees a change of emphasis in management being required to achieve Favourable Condition. New targets for heathland condition favour a model concentrating on reducing soil fertility that will be dominated by more extensive grazing and possible cut-and-collect systems. These will be supplemented by burning, scraping and Bracken spraying with removal of invasive non-native species. For woodland, previously not specifically addressed, a programme is envisaged of thinning, provision of dead wood and removal of invasive non-native species together with Fallow deer control.

Section 5 presents the goal, objectives, expected results, targets and specific projects to be undertaken. The goal of conservation management over 2016-2020 is “To improve the condition of Ashdown Forest’s heathland and woodland ecosystems in line with Natural England's criteria for Favourable Condition, where public use and enjoyment are in harmony with its international designations as a wildlife site”. A number of guiding principles are defined for achieving this including (1) flexibility, (2) cooperation with commoners, (3) partnerships with local stakeholders, (4) evidenced-based management, (5) effective communication with stakeholders and (6) ensuring value for money, cost recovery and sustainable funding.

The conservation management plan for 2016-2020 has six management objectives and 20 result areas. Quantitative targets for each result area are provided based on knowledge at the time of completing this plan and have been used as the basis for budgeting. A total of 35 management projects have been identified.

Objective 1 focuses on heathland management, which will be delivered though six result areas:

1.1 Scrub control limits the spread of Gorse and scrub in heathland areas and prevents reversion or secondary woodland – This targets 58ha of Gorse plus clearance of Birch, Oak and Scot’s Pine scrub and control of non-natives (Rhododendron & Gaultheria) through a mix of burning, mechanized cut and collect and work by the Conservators’ staff, volunteers and contractors to augment the positive impact of grazing on scrub control;

1.2 Bracken is managed to limit its extent and dominance in heathland and prevent soil fertility increase – The 220ha area of Bracken will be managed primarily through a combination of mechanized cut and collect and spraying with a herbicide in order to reduce its extent and dominance;

1.3 Grazing by domestic stock prevents scrub encroachment and promotes biodiversity – Current grazing will be continued and an invisible fencing system installed to enable the expansion of grazing without the need for enclosures – additional fencing along A-roads may be needed to reduce risks to road users, which will be assessed through an independent risk assessment – expansion of grazing stock is planned through working with commoners, third party graziers and, if needed, expansion of the Conservators’ stock;

1.4 Heather management maintains a balance of age classes and limits increase in soil fertility - The 675 ha of Heather will be managed to maintain its diversity through a combination of controlled burning, scraping and cut and collect harvesting;

1.5 Grass heath management maintains an open diverse sward – A total of 15ha of acid grassland is targeted for mowing each year;

1.6 Removal of invasive woodland restores heathland in priority areas – A total of 15 ha is targeted to be removed mostly through the work of contractors.

Objective 2 focuses on woodland management, which will be delivered though four result areas:

2.1 Non-native species in woodland are controlled – A total of 43 ha of Rhododendron is targeted for removal and Turkey Oaks and other species such as Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and certain conifers will be removed;

2.2 Woodland management by commoners leads to thinning and increased dead wood microhabitat - The woodland is relatively even aged mostly with an age of less than 40 years. It will be managed by thinning and felling to create a more diverse woodland structure by working with Commoners who have rights of estover;

2.3 Ride mowing maintains fire breaks and the woodland edge microhabitat – The woodland rides will be managed through annual mowing;

2.4 Control of deer numbers through an annual deer cull - Fallow Deer numbers will be reduced through an annual cull in association with the Deer Initiative as a means of reducing road accidents involving deer and improving the condition of the area’s heavily browsed woodlands.

Objective 3 focuses on the landscape & historical environment, which will be delivered though two result areas:

3.1 Management of the “clumps” to maintain their presence in the landscape - Clumps will be managed by selective thinning to favour good specimen pines, and by the removal of old, damaged or dangerous trees. As a statutory duty, this will not be funded by Countryside Stewardship.

3.2 Management of priority archaeological features in the landscape - The Conservators will undertake the following works in 2016: (a) tree/scrub clearance at Newbridge blast furnace and Crowborough Warren furnace, (b) a geophysics survey at Newbridge blast furnace and Roman Road SHINE and (c) a topography survey at Crowborough Warren furnace;2

Objective 4 focuses on the ponds and streams, which will be delivered though two result areas:

4.1 Ponds will be created as a water source for grazing animals - A total of 25 ponds will be created to provide water for cattle within invisible fencing areas and create a habitat feature.

4.2 Ponds managed to protect their vulnerable wildlife and contribute to the Forest landscape - Existing ponds will be maintained and managed according to their importance for conservation.

Objective 5 focuses on education, community engagement and partnerships, which will be delivered though six result areas:

5.1 Community engagement is increased - The Conservators will engage with Commoners, residents and visitors through a variety of methods including regular meetings and social media;

5.2 Education access in increased - This will provide up to 25 inward school visits per year as part of the wider Ashdown Forest Education programme; it will also provide a number of new resources to the classroom including mobile displays and binoculars;

5.3 Public and visitor education is increased - The Conservators’ public and visitor education work will focus on four main areas: (1) publication of ‘Ashdown Forest Life’, a biannual newsletter for commoners, residents, members of the Friends of Ashdown Forest and the public, (2) interpretation panels will be installed in 12 locations, (3) development of the Forest Centre, which will not be funded by Countryside Stewardship, but will contribute

2 SHINE (the Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England) is a single, nationally consistent dataset of undesignated historic environment features from across England that could benefit from management through agri-environment schemes administered by Natural England.

to the Conservators conservation work on public and visitor education and (4) events and training at the Forest Centre will be continued, although not through funding from Countryside Stewardship;

5.4 Ashdown Forest’s volunteer programme is developed - The Conservation volunteer programme will be expanded using existing staff time/resources and other funding sources;

5.5 Local enterprise partnerships for conservation – Partnerships with local businesses and farmers will be sought to develop (a) use of biomass or litter from cut and collect operations, (b) conservation meat sales building on existing sales and (c) retail opportunities at the Forest Centre;

5.6 Liaison with neighbours - The Conservators will continue to engage with neighbouring land managers, including the Pippingford & Ministry of Defence Conservation Group and Old Lodge Nature Reserve group, to discuss issues of mutual concern.

Objective 6 focuses on monitoring, recording and evaluation, which is detailed in Section 6 of the plan, and will be delivered though three main areas:

1) Monitoring Biodiversity and Condition – Natural England will undertake condition assessments of the Forest to provide an overall assessment of change. The Conservators have identified 15 monitoring projects that will provide additional information on changes to priority habitats and species to inform management;

2) Progress Monitoring and Recording by Objective - A series of key performance indicators by objective are defined, which summarise the key expected outcomes of the management plan and means of verifying these. These will be monitored and reported against in annual management reports. In addition, progress will be monitored for presentation to quarterly meetings of the Conservation Committee, and the work conducted across the Forest will be recorded, in part to meet the Terms and Conditions of Countryside Stewardship;

3) Evaluations and Research - Evaluations and research will provide more specific and detailed information focusing on implementation and the effects of management and other factors on Ashdown Forest. Annual evaluations to inform annual planning and budgeting, a mid-term evaluation and a series of research projects in collaboration with the University of Sussex and University College London are proposed.

Section 7 of the plan addresses delivery mechanisms with a focus on (1) governance, in particular decision-making, public accountability and the role of the Board and Conservation Committee, (2) operational planning and translation of the five year plan into action, (3) reporting and documentation to provide evidence of progress and results, (4) resources, in particular ensuring there are adequate team and financial resources for delivery and (5) key internal management functions to meet Countryside Stewardship Terms and Conditions and ensure effective delivery.

The 2016-2020 conservation management plan presents an ambitious but feasible and costed work programme.3 Four main issues stand out that will influence its successful delivery, and which will require flexibility in delivery depending on how they are resolved:

(1) Grazing and invisible fencing – The expansion of grazing by invisible fencing has the great benefit of enabling an expansion in cattle grazing without the need for conventional fencing. However, it does not provide the same level of security as conventional fencing. In order to address the risks associated with invisible fencing, in particular the potential for escape of animals near busy A-roads, an independent risk assessment and mitigation plan will be commissioned. It is possible that some level of permanent fencing may be recommended for certain areas, which would require an application to the Secretary of State under Section 38 of the 2006 Commons Act;

3 Final setting of targets and budgets is on-going and is due to be completed in early December 2015.

(2) Grazing, fencing allowance and permanent base – Grazing by the Conservators’ Hebridean sheep, ponies and cattle has a unique and important impact and is central to grazing plans over the short and medium term while the issues relating to grazing and invisible fencing are resolved. The area of Ashdown Forest that can be legally fenced for grazing is limited to the 100 acre allowance in the 1974 Ashdown Forest Act and a further 10 ha exemption in the 2006 Commons Act. This combined total of 50 ha is currently used by the Conservators but creates a constraint to the potential to achieve the extensive grazing that is required across the Forest. Two potential solutions to this constraint are (a) an increase in the fencing allowance of 100 acres in the 1974 Ashdown Forest Act and (b) the purchase or development of an area to act as a permanent base for the Conservators’ grazing programme that will free up a significant part of the 50 ha allowance that currently serves this purpose;

(3) Disposal of arisings from cut and collect operations – Cutting and collecting vegetation is a vital heathland management tool but to have impact, in particular if extensive grazing is constrained, will require the cutting and collection of vegetation over a large area. The total area for cut and collect is likely to be in the region of several tens of hectares if not more each year, and with an anticipated yield of 8-15 tons per ha, will produce a large amount of material. This is a long-standing problem and solutions will need to be sought through a combination of partnerships with local businesses, disposal to animal owners for bedding or with uses for biomass for this to be a feasible management option;

(4) Staffing and management – Current staffing levels are stretched to deliver the existing programme of work. The proposed plan will require additional personnel to support the programme, in particular to support the fencing and other aspects of the grazing programme. Additional staff have been costed into the plan. The plan also highlights the requirement for improved management systems. As part of this, the Conservators’ staff propose to form a Conservation Management Team consisting of the Conservation Officer, Grazing Officer and Rangers, which will meet regularly to plan and review the operational aspects and implementation of the five-year conservation management plan.

Income from Countryside Stewardship over the five years is estimated to be in the region of £2.7 million and provides the Conservators with a great opportunity to improve the overall management and condition of the Forest.