Defra defends ancient fort from raiding rabbits
"This is a real conservation success story. Five years of carefully monitored mixed grazing and timely scrub control are now paying off. Skylarks and meadow pipits, woodcocks, wheatears and ring ouzels are now retuning to the area after many years of decline. Plant species such as mouse-eared hawkweed, musk thistles and doves-foot are flourishing."
Bill Field, Rural Development Service in the East Midlands
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An Iron Age fort, built to defend the inhabitants of ancient Leicestershire against invaders, now needs protecting from the local rabbit population. Country park ranger Tim Maydwell farms the land where the hill fort of Burrough on-the-Hill once stood, which is managed by Leicestershire County Council. Keen to save the remains of the ancient fort from further disturbance by burrowing and breeding rabbits, Tim called for re-enforcements. These came in the shape of Defra's Rural Development Service, Leicestershire County Council, English Heritage, the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and the landowning Ernest Cook Trust, who have joined forces to defend the fort - and it looks like they are winning the battle.
Tim, whose family have farmed in the area for generations, said:
"The rabbits may have been attracted to this site by the abundance of scrubby vegetation around the fort. They have made their warrens in the foundations of the old ramparts and now there is a danger of land slippage. I didn't want to eradicate the rabbits, nor did I want to completely clear the scrub as it is a valuable habitat for nesting birds such as the linnet."
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With the Defra Countryside Stewardship Scheme funding, a system of targeted scrub removal has been phased in over several years. A number of cows and sheep have been drafted in to help out, with the job of grazing the site between February and November. The cattle are succeeding in controlling the tussocky grasses and the sheep have been eating the softer grasses found on the tops of the stone and earth ramparts. Care has been taken to retain healthy gorse and hawthorn bushes and as a result the rabbit population is rapidly decreasing whilst other wildlife is flourishing.
Under the Countryside Stewardship, hedgerows have been coppiced, gapped up and laid in the traditional style of the area. The larger trees and shrubs are being conserved and this has been appreciated by the local tree sparrow and owl populations. The vegetation has recovered to such an extent that parts of the site have been designated as a Wildlife Site by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
Kate Fearn of English Heritage has also applauded the work of the County Council and the various partners:
"Burrough-on-the-Hill is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and one of the few remaining examples of this style of iron age hill fort. It has superb views over High Leicestershire and has been much visited by the public over the years. Not surprisingly this has also contributed to soil erosion, along with the rabbit damage and the influences of the weather. I'm delighted to say the condition of the ramparts is now greatly improved as a result of the grazing and grassland management . Thanks to the County Council and the funding partners the site will retain its value as an historic monument, a public amenity and a wildlife haven."
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme closed for new applications on 31 March 2004. It will be replaced, in 2005, subject to European Commission approval, by the new Environmental Stewardship scheme (ES). This scheme will be made up of three elements: Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) and Higher Level Stewardship (HLS).
As part of Rural Strategy 2004 Defra has reviewed its funding streams for rural areas. See details of the funding streams review on Defraweb.
Page last modified:
19 May, 2005
Page published: 19 January, 2005