Barton Common - Volunteer Scrub Bashing Tasks Winter 2014/2015

UPDATE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BARTON COMMON

Barton Common is now part of New Milton Town Council Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) Scheme.  This means that over the coming years the Common will start to be environmentally managed via a cutting and grazing regime that will encourage a diverse number of species to thrive on the Common.

Update 4th August 2014

Next week, 6 New Forest ponies will be released on to Barton Common.  These grazing animals will be on site all year round and will help manage the Common by controlling the grass and scrub.  Some animals may be taken off site and others may be brought in depending on seasonal and ground conditions throughout the year.

The ponies will be checked on a regular basis by their owners who are New Forest Commoners.  If you visit Barton Common regularly would you like to help by keeping an eye on the animals, gates and fences to check they are o.k.?  If so, we can train you as a "looker" which will help to ensure that any issues can be addressed as soon as possible.  We will be running an evening training session with the grazier soon after the animals have been put out.

In the winter, New Milton Council will be undertaking scrub clearance (including willow, birch and gorse) on Barton Common in order to create a more open habitat of value to wildlife.  This work will take place between 1st October 2014 and 28th February 2015 to avoid disturbance to nesting birds and will largely be carried out by contractors with help from our volunteers as much as possible.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to get involved in some way in the wildlife conservation of the common or other sites in New Milton please contact Angela Peters at the New Forest Land Advice Service on 01590 646654 or 07880197351 angela.peters@nflandadvice.org.uk or New Milton Council 01425 619120 or Long Meadow & Barton Common Community Group at contact@longmeadowcommunitygroup.com

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The ponies will be released at 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday 13th August 2014.  If you are interested please come along for this momentous occasion.

GRAND FAYRE 

AT LONG MEADOW

BARTON ON SEA

THE COMMUNITY OF THE LONG MEADOW - SEA SCOUTS, BEAVERS, FRIENDLY DOG HUT AND LONG MEADOW & BARTON COMMON COMMUNITY GROUP ARE HOLDING 

THEIR ANNUAL GRAND FAYRE ON 

SATURDAY 12TH JULY 2014

BETWEEN 11 A.M. AND 4 P.M.

STALLS: REFRESHMENTS:"FUN DOG SHOW": BOUNCY CASTLE: RODEO BULL: 

ITINERARY:

11 A.M.      PUPPET SHOW IN MARQUEE

11.30 A.M.  FANCY DRESS, PRIZES FOR SEPARATE GIRLS & BOYS GROUPS

12  NOON   ZUMBA

12.30 P.M.  FRIENDLY DOG HUT - MOST APPEALING EYES.

12.45 P.M.  HANDSOMEST BOY

1.00 P.M.   PRETTIEST GIRL

1.30 P.M.  DEMONSTRATION AND HAVE A GO OF DOGGY FUN GAMES AND TRICKS

2.00 P.M.  BEST PEDIGREE

2.15 P.M.  BEST CROSS BREED

2.30 P.M.  JUDGES FAVOURITE

3.00 P.M.  BALLET DEMONSTRATION

3.20 P.M.  TUG OF WAR

3.45 P.M.  RAFFLE

PLEASE COME ALONG AND SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP ON A STALL OR BAKE A CAKE OR DONATE BOOKS, PLANTS OR BRIC A BRAC PLEASE CONTACT THE LONG MEADOW & BARTON COMMON COMMUNITY GROUP.

CUTTING REGIME - LONG MEADOW, BARTON ON SEA - 2014

UPDATE ON LONG MEADOW

CUTTING REGIME FOR THE LONG MEADOW FOR 2014 IS CURRENTLY DISPLAYED ON THE NOTICE BOARD IN THE LONG MEADOW. 

IT IS YET TO BE CONFIRMED BY NEW MILTON TOWN COUNCIL WHEN THE FIRST CUT WILL BE CARRIED OUT.

PLUG PLANTS WILL BE GROWN IN THE UNCUT AREAS ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH BOUNDARIES WITH MATURE PLANTS PLANTED BY THE "LONG MEADOW & BARTON COMMON COMMUNITY (ORIGINALLY LONG MEADOW COMMUNITY GROUP) WITH FUNDS RAISED BY THE 2013 "FAYRE" HELD LAST SEPTEMBER.

UPDATE ON BARTON COMMON

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL WILL BE INSTALLING THE BRIDLE PATH BRIDGE ON 22ND APRIL 2014. 

WATCH THIS SPACE

"GRAND FAYRE" HOSTED BY SEA SCOUTS/BEAVERS/FRIENDLY DOG HUT & LONG MEADOW & BARTON COMMON COMMUNITY WILL BE HELD ON 12TH JULY 2014 - PLEASE PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY AND COME ALONG AND SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL EVENT.

Information Day at Barton Common - Saturday 5th April 2014

The New Forest Land Advice Service is holding an information day for the public and local residents at Barton Common on Saturday 5th April. The purpose of the day is for people to find out why and how the Common is being managed for wildlife and access. You can also find out about how you can get involved in managing the common and monitoring wildlife. Please drop in and see us at the information stand near the main car park anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. or join in one of the activities below. Join us for a litter pick starting at 10 a.m. at the information point/main car park. All equipment will be provided. We will also be running short guided walks around the Common starting at 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. which start and finish at the main car park. Dogs welcome If you are interested in finding out more or would like to get involved in some way in the wildlife conservation of the common or other sites in New Milton please contact Angela Peters at the New Forest Land Advice Service on 01590 646654 - angela.peters@nflandadvice.org.uk or New Milton Town Council on 01425 619120.

Update on the Management of Barton Common

Barton Common is now part of New Milton Town Council#s Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.
This means that over the coming years the common will start to be managed better for wildlife through 
a cutting and grazing regime which will encourage a diverse number of species to thrive on the Common.

The new sign, which has been funded by the Community Wildlife Plans Project at the New Forest Land Advice Service talks about the management regime which will be introduced over the coming months.

The Community Wildlife Plans Project will be holding an information day at Barton Common on Saturday 5th April from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. where there will be guided walks and an opportunity to find our more about the management and wildlife of the Common.  We will also be raising awareness about dog fouling and encouraging more people to pick up after their dogs whilst they continue to enjoy the site.

Volunteers from Community Payback have started to clear scrub in order to restore the valuable open habitat.  Cut scrub will be burned on site where possible.  The volunteers will be out on several days in February clearing further scrub and then all work will cease so that the breeding birds will not be disturbed.  Some scrub is being retained as valuable habitat.

A new bridle bridge will be put in over the stream and stock proof fencing will be erected.  It is anticipated that grazing livestock will be present on the Common soon thereafter.

There will be opportunities up in October 2014 for further volunteer scrub bashing days which will be open to everyone to help make the site better for wildlife.

Watch this space.

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to volunteer to be involved in some way in the wildlife conservation of the Common please contact Angela Peters at the New Forest Land Advice Service on 01590 646654 or New Milton Town Council on 01425 619120

Update on the Management of Barton Common

Barton Common is now part of New Milton Town Council's Higher Stewardship Scheme.  This means that over the coming years the Common will start to be managed better for wildlife through a cutting and grazing regime which will encourage a diverse number of species to thrive on the Common.

The new notice board on Barton Common, which has been funded by the Community Wildlife Plans Project at the New Forest Land Advice Service talks about the management regime which will be introduced over the coming months.

We anticipate that fencing will be erected during 2014 and grazing livestock present on the Common soon thereafter.

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to volunteer to be involved in some way in the wildlife conservation of the Common please contact:

Angela Peters of the New Forest Land Advice Service on 01590 646654.