Commons Maintenance
Objectives
To maintain and protect the existing character of the commons.
To facilitate the use of the commons for organised activities as well as a place of public resort and recreation.
To conserve the existing indigenous species within the area and protect the nature conservation interest of both existing and new habitats.
To ensure the adoption of management practices that enhance the biodiversity value of the commons.
In Practice
Trees
To retain some self seeded trees and remove those considered undesirable, such as Sycamore, as advised by The Men of the trees.
Gorse
Old denigrated gorse is relatively poor for wildlife and can be invasive if left to grow unchecked resulting in stands reaching a height of over three metres and is highly inflammable with a deep extensive root system.
To use positive management on the gorse stands worthy of retention to enhance their character, composition and age structure with consideration to long-term viability, health and safety.
Remove old leggy gorse and ensure the successful establishment of new growth where considered desirable.
The old cut gorse to be removed off site with minimal soil disturbance to encourage seed germination. (while burning on site will encourage gorse seed germination it also encourages the growth of weeds)
Seeds are usually released in warm conditions falling around the bush but some pods can split open and shoot seeds up to five metres away. Seeds can also be spread by birds and footwear.
New bushes first flower when about 18 months old, mainly in the Spring and Autumn.
Fire breaks to be maintained through large areas of gorse and where gorse grows adjacent to private property.
Grass land
Designated areas of grass to be cut on an irregularly basis to allow the public clear access.
The grass is cut on an irregular basis to allow spring, summer and autumn flowers and other plants to re-seed. Ideally the cuttings should be lifted, especially in those areas supporting rare plants such as wild orchids.
Bracken, Bramble
Bracken and brambles to be cleared on a rolling programme to prevent them claiming too much of the open spaces.
All work to be completed at an appropriate time of year. When possible this should be outside of the bird nesting season between October through to May and when the indigenous flowers have seeded.
Weed control
Noxious weeds to be dug out by hand and removed in accordance with the law.
Grazing
To endeavour to re-introduce cows to graze on the commons as they help to increase species diversity and suppress scrub growth.
Ponds
Maintain those ponds under Council control with particular attention to the pond near Fort Doyle and the pond along the first fairway which has been neglected for years. Maintenance of the pond along the first fairway may have to be in consultation with the golf clubs as it could be considered to be inside the designated playing area.
Cleaning of ponds requires care so as not to damage the blue clay lining or the valuable plants and wildlife.
Car Parks
Car parks being in constant use and in some cases being subjected to inappropriate vehicle activity develop pot holes and other surface irregularities which if not attended to become serious and expensive to put right.
Re-grade and surface car parks to enable where possible the water to run off rather than puddle.
Future Projects
Outline projects and actions required giving the reason for the project and the anticipated outcome.
Where necessary obtain an environment impact report.
For example, in recent years, Environment Guernsey (EG) has been involved in the management of L’Ancresse in a number of ways. As the wholly-owned subsidiary of La Société Guernesiaise, the staff have helped provide advice and information as requested by the VCC and continue to provide specific information on important species and habitats as required.
In terms of land management, EG has been managing the species-rich area of marshy grassland near the Hougue Patris and more recently, an area supporting nationally rare plant species along Mont Cuet Road.
Although much of the Common could be split into two general habitat types – grassland and scrub, there is a broad range of each type present. Grassland habitat is predominately Dune Grassland or Amenity Grassland, the latter associated with the Golf Course, but numerous smaller pockets of other grassland types can be found, for example, around the seasonally damp areas and ponds. Similarly, the scrub habitats include Bracken, Bramble and Gorse stands.
Many of the habitats are routinely found in many other parts of the island and are therefore not particularly rare. However, much of the conservation value of L’Ancresse is due to the large extent of these habitats and their juxtaposition.
The scale of the semi-natural landscape, from a local perspective, is unique and consequently, the associated diversity of plant and animal species recorded from the area is considerable. Many of these species are not found anywhere else in the island and for others, the Common represents a stronghold.
The policy of managing scrub helps to maintain the extent of grasslands and also creates dense stands of gorse which provide nesting sites for birds such as Whitethroats, Linnets and the locally rare Dartford Warbler. However, the proportion of different habitats which comprise L’Ancresse is crucial and an appropriate balance is required to safeguard viable populations of wildlife species associated with each habitat.
Conclusion
Looking after the Commons in the interest of all Islanders and balancing the reasonable aspirations of those looking to hold organised events is an ever more demanding task. Gone are the days when work was carried out on an ad-hoc basis, restricted by a lack of funds.
With effect of 2016 the new injection of funds has allowed a constructive programme of works and management that enables the Council to repair those areas of the common that have been neglected for decades and embark on new projects that will further protect, preserve and enhance the common.
In appropriate circumstances seek advice from outside agencies so that the best informed decisions can be made.