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