Blue Remembered Hills
Wildlife Sites
During 2005, a special effort was made to contact the owners of small Wildlife Sites. The emphasis on the smaller site was extremely rewarding as many small, one-field hay meadows and pastures were visited.
Such small sites are often difficult to manage and tend to be owned by long-term residents or ‘incomers’ new to the area. At the same time they are often some of the most species-rich patches of ground in the county, especially the hay meadows.
In total the Wildlife Sites officer met with 40 owners of Wildlife Sites to discuss their management. In several cases the project was able to offer grants towards the costs of managing these sites. Funding goes towards fencing and gates to keep stock on pastures and out of hay meadows (at the appropriate times of year).