Walk and Talk evening

Press release by Mike McCart

​Some 30 local people (pictured) joined a Walk and Talk Volunteer Event last week to find out the many different ways in which they can help maintain rare lowland heath and wildflower meadows.

The event was organised by The Lynchmere Society, a charity that manages the fifth largest area of lowland heath in West Sussex and which together with its five meadows is the largest community-based landowner in the South Downs National Park.
Local people visited and learned about the 17th Century Barn whose walls contain some Normandy Stone. They learnt about the nearby community orchard containing 36 traditional apple trees including the West Sussex Crawley Beauty and Egremont Russet and why and how Belted Gallows Cows graze the fields and commons in ways that improve wildlife
Following the tour Christopher Tibbs, who chairs the Society’s Land Management Committee, gave a rapid and colourful description of 3,000 years of history of lowland heath from its creation, neglect and decline to its being rescued today. He emphasised the importance of controlling both alien and native invasive species such, Rhododendron, Western Hemlock, Scrub and Bracken over the course of the year to enable the heather to thrive.

Local Organic farmer Edwin Brooks and Director of the local ‘Cow Club’ explained how the cow’s conservation grazing of the Commons keeps invasive birch and bracken under control and how their nibbling of gorse and heather creates a different ag vegetation. All of which stimulates biodiversity and enhances wildlife.​
The evening concluded with leading botanist and ecologist, Bruce Middleton, setting out how he will create a Botanical Baseline of the Commons and Meadows, building on the Society’s 40-year habitat records. He will be organising workshops to train volunteers on how to find and record a diverse range of flora, fauna and fungi and as well as the birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians who depend on this habitat.

Mike McCart, Chairman of the Lynchmere Society said,

“The evening was a great success. We plan to hold more volunteer events during the summer and autumn to build wider community involvement to conserve this precious habitat. If people can’t wait for the next event, they can find out more and register their interest by going to www.thelynchmeresociety.org.”
Thanks to Peter Searight for taking the pictures
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