Plantlife international

Barnham Cross Common is a Site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA), designated at a European Level, for its value to Woodlark, Nightjar, and Stone Curlew as foraging habitats.

Mixtures of bare ground with closely grazed grasses and other plants are vital to many insect species, such as the Brush-thighed Seed-eater and Set-aside Beetles. These insects are found in the area along with many species of mining wasps, bees, and the richest diversity of ant species of any site within East Anglia.

The Town Council planned vegetation management at this site to maintain public paths and improve wildlife habitat. The works would include removing scrub and trees, creating soil disturbance and bare ground through rotovating soil inversion, and ploughing small areas. The scrub and trees had been left to grow unchecked, which had colonised the heath and threatened the native species there. Their removal would encourage dormant seeds to grow, increasing the grassland areas and providing conditions for the potential recolonization of threatened species. The common was also fenced in 2017 to allow grazing animals to return to the area, which would benefit a large number of smaller species of animals, birds, insects and plants.

Maintaining the footpaths would also encourage visitors to walk in designated areas, allowing the grasslands to flourish elsewhere and providing a safer surface for walkers.

TTSR Ltd was contracted to complete works, including removing scrub and trees, creating soil disturbance and bare ground through rotovating soil inversion, and ploughing small areas.

Areas of archaeological interest were left alone, while elsewhere, a 360-degree selector grab and digger were used to remove the gorse and scrub. Methodology was employed to comply with HES objectives (as monitored by Natural England) and keep soil disturbance to a minimum. Over three hectares were cleared in total, and roughly 300 tonnes of gorse and scrub were removed.