Bowland Award Nominee: Chiltern Commons
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The document describes the Chilterns Commons Project which worked from 2011-2015 to conserve over 200 commons across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The project engaged over 600 volunteers in activities like scrub clearance, pond management, surveys and training to improve management of the fragmented common lands. It supported the establishment of friends groups and held educational events to increase public awareness of the ecological and historical importance of the commons landscapes.
Bowland Award Nominee: Chiltern Commons
- 1. www.landscapesforlifeconference.org.uk Follow us on Twitter #L4L2014 Bowland Award Nominee Chilterns Commons Project
- 3. Chilterns Commons Project 2011-2015 Castle Hill, Totternhoe
- 5. Working at a landscape scale but with fragmented, scattered sites Over 200 commons 2,100 ha of common land or 2.5% of the AONB 75% of commons are less than 5 ha Smallest common is 8.7 square metres and the largest common is 440 ha
- 6. Why are commons special? Over half of the common land in the Chilterns is designated for its wildlife habitats – SAC, SSSI, LWS Rich Historic Environment Centuries of cultural and social history No agricultural improvement Support locally and nationally rare species Highly valued by local communities Legislation protects commons and regulates management
- 9. Animal Pound
- 10. Kite Festival at Dunstable Downs
- 11. Horse riders on Chorleywood Common
- 12. Golf at Ley Hill Common
- 13. Winter fun, Downley Common
- 14. Greys Green
- 15. Nettlebed Common 100 years ago
- 17. Ancient beech coppice, Nettlebed Common
- 19. Brick kilns, Cadmore End Common
- 20. Naphill Common
- 21. Ponds in former clay workings, Nettlebed Common
- 22. Hawridge Common
- 23. Pubic Awareness - Almost Nil Common Rights - Not Exercised Management - Little
- 24. Supported by £500,000 project with £400,000 from HLF Chilterns Conservation Board Chiltern Society 17 other project partners Volunteer time
- 25. This is what we’re aiming for
- 32. Chicken of the Woods Pholiota squarrosa Shaggy scalycap Bisporella pallescens (<50 British records, new county species) Crepidotus sp. Oysterling Octospora humosa (<1cm across) (new county species) Cordiceps ophioglossoides Snaketongue Truffleclub (new county species)
- 33. DOING STUFF
- 34. Getting Local People Involved
- 35. Volunteer work party on Hawridge & Cholesbury Commons Site Management – 13 major sites Plans, Training, Equipment, Contractors
- 36. Volunteer work party on Hawridge & Cholesbury Commons Site Management Plans, Training, Equipment, Contractors
- 37. Scrub Clearance
- 38. Pond Management
- 39. Conserving a Scheduled Monument – Neolithic barrows
- 41. Surveys
- 43. HOLMER GREEN C of E BAPTIST PRIMITIVE METHODIST WESLEYAN OTHER Churches and chapels built between 1800 and 1900 Historical Research Commons and Non Conformists
- 45. First World War Trenches
- 47. RAF trainees cleared scrub
- 48. Volunteers mapping location and orientation of WWI trenches
- 50. Setting up and Supporting Friends Groups
- 51. Training – 600 participants 24 Training Courses so far Demonstrating types of brush cutter – have since funded 4 for Friends Groups
- 52. Training – 600 participants Teaching how to identify hazardous trees
- 53. Training – 600 participants Teaching how to undertake species surveys
- 54. Training – 600 participants Teaching Friends Groups how to run family fun days
- 55. Education Projects West Wycombe Combined School making a film about their local common
- 56. The Chilterns Commons Festival 1400 visitors
- 57. Brick making by hand
- 58. Affordable Housing in the Chilterns
- 59. Selling off the Staff
- 60. Taking one for the cause
- 61. Going the Extra Mile Xxxx the Bailiff
- 62. Volunteer with his own balls
- 63. Make History Vote for the Chilterns - the first back to back Winner of The Bowland Award