Conservation
Breaking down the barriers
fund grant £20,00
total project costs £54,169 (37% of total)
Breaking Down the Barries was a volunteering project desinged to encourage young people and vulnerable adults to access, protect and learning more about the New Forest National Park. Over 180 young people and around 60 adults took part in a range of practical conservation tasks on a nature reserve within or adjacent to the National Park.
Credit: Jamie Corey
Friends of Lepe Country Park
fund grant £1,123
total project costs £6,308 (18% of total)
This project built on the interest shown by visitors to Lepe Country Park to participate in the site's management and improvement.
The Sustainable Development Fund grant was used to establish a 'Friends of Lepe Country Park' voluntary group. Established in 2007 the group continues to grow and meet regularly to carry out practical habitat conservation works and site maintenance and runs a successful programme of informative walks and talks.
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Credit: Sara Briggs
New Forest Barbaselle and Bechstein's bat research
fund grant £19,263
total project cost £40,964 (47% of total)
Barbastelle and Bechstein's bats are two of the UK's rarest bat species and both can be found in the New Forest National Park. This project undertook research to identify areas of the New Forest where each species exists, areas where they forage and the roost locations of colonies. The research was conducted by around forty local volunteers who also took part in awareness raising and training events.
Sustainable Development Fund support enabled the purchase of a range of technical survey equipment which continues to be used by the Hampshire Bat Group to undertake further research. It is anticipated that the research data gathered will be used to inform land management within the New Forest to the benefit of these species.
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Credit: Colleen Mainstone
Beaulieu Road sales yard utilities installation
total project costs £134,375
fund grant £29,400 (22% of total)
Sales of New Forest pones have taken place on the site of the existing Beaulieu Road Sales Yard for over sixty years and the yard is used by nearly all the commoners in the New Forest to sell their ponies by auction.
Although much improved in recent years, the sales yard still offers only very basic facilities for buyers, sellers and also for the stock.
The sales yard plays an essential role in the future sustainability of commoning in the New Forest and in order to comply with current and future animal welfare legislation and trading standards it is necessary to install mains water and electricity to the site.
New Forest invasive non-native plants project
total project costs £216,023
fund grant £20,000 (9% of total)
The New Forest National Park is one of the most important areas for wildlife in western Europe and as such, has many designations recognising its local, national and international importance for biodiversity.
A large proportion of the National Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and includes a mix of heathland and mire, ponds, grassland and woodland habitats not found anywhere else in lowland Britain. It is estimated that over 2,700 non native plant species have established themselves in Britain and the vast majority of them pose little or no threat to our native wildlife.
However, there are a number of species that are having a very serious negative effect on our native wildlife and present particular challenges in the New Forest National Park, for example, Crassula helmsii, parrots feather, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed.
This project aims to address the problem across the entire National Park area including the Open Forest, enclosed landscape and river valleys. It will deliver large scale practical management work, improved data recording and collection and extensive volunteer and community involvement. The project is being led by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and is partnership between the Trust and the Environment Agency, New Forest National Park Authority, Forestry Commission, Defra and Natural England.
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Hatchett Green enhancement project
total project costs £3,309
fund grant £1,772 (54% of total)
This project, which is now complete, replaced unattractive signage and urban-style bollards at Hatchett Green Site of Special Scientific Interest with ones more in-keeping with the New Forest Landscape.
Credit: Steve Whitmarsh
South coast Osprey project
SDF grant £5,000
39% of total project costs £12,754
Ospreys last bred in southern England over 400 years ago. The Hampshire coast has been identified as a prime location for Osprey recolonisation as they pass through this area twice a year on migration and there is excellent feeding site and food supply. First time breeders do not build their own nest, they occupy nests built previously by other Ospreys. This project, which is part of the wider South Coast Project, is to identify suitable sites around the New Forest coast to erect artificial Osprey nest platforms.
Recording Boldre parish
fund grant £9,400
total project cost £25,494 (37% of total)
The Recording Boldre project, which took place during 2006 - 2008, involved the community in an exploration of the recent history of the parish with the aim of increasing understanding among residents and improving social cohesion.
Three exhibitions were held showing photographs, documents, maps and anecdotes of local history. Interest increased with each exhibition and further material was contributed to the project. The exhibitions attracted in excess of 1,500 people and the project involved around 30 volunteers and community groups.
As a result of the project the Boldre Parish Historical Society has been formed.
Credit: Peter Roberts
Archaeological excavation equipment
total project costs £8,601
fund grant £1,657 (19% of total )
The Fund has helped a local archaeological society purchase essential tools and survey equipment in order to conduct archaeological excavations, designed to provide dating evidence to better understand the Forest's history. The excavation was conducted during August 2006 and findings reported on in November.2006
Related link
www.nfhistoryandarchaeology.hampshire.org.uk
Credit: New Forest Section, Hampshire Field Club