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Lane End Common – a frosty morning view of the

Meridian stone.

E-Newsletter Winter 2016 - 2017

Chailey Commons

Society

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Chairman’s Notes

Hello and welcome to the Winter Newsletter.

We are now into the new year and up to now the winter has been reasonable with some cold spells and some rain. I think we need more rain as the ground has been very dry and the reservoirs are low.

Our Activities programme is under way and details have been included with this Newsletter or online if yours reaches you that way. You may download and print a copy from the website if you wish.

The winter work on the commons has been going ahead and we have been meeting together with the ranger and looking at the various areas which will be receiving attention and also for the grazing considerations. See her report for more details.

Our Treasurer, Ian Woolsey is looking to stand down and if you can help us with this please let me know. Also, our lovely Rosalie is retiring from leading the Fungus Forays. Do you know about Fungi? Could you lead us on our autumn walk to find these fascinating things? Do let me know if you can – thank you.

See you soon

William

What’s coming up soon… March Thursday 16th Indoor Meeting – Chailey Village Hall 7.30.p.m. AGM followed by the results of our 2016 surveys on Red House Common as observed by our experienced surveyors. April Saturday 8th Outdoor Meeting ‘Birds and more birds’ Join Ian Woolsey in our search on the common seeking new migrants and resident birds. Meet Lane End Common car park at 9.15.a.m. April Saturday 15th 2 – 4 p.m. Easter Lambing at Townings Farm. Carole and Kevin Uridge invite us to the farm. Group visits meeting at the farm shop, Townings Farm Plumpton Road North Chailey. Advice should be taken for pregnancy, allergy and other health issues before farm visits. May Saturday 20th 2.30.p.m. Lane End Common. An early summer walk. Come and join me for a stroll looking at the heathland spring flowers, birds and trees.

Membership Matters

This is a reminder that Membership subscriptions are due on 1st February, so please ensure that your payments are made as soon as possible. The subscription rates remain at £7.00 for a member or £12.00 for a patron. Payments can be made by cheque, payable to Chailey Commons Society and sent to the Membership Secretary at 18 Newlands Park Way, Newick, Lewes BN8 4PG or by electronic transfer. Bank details for payment:- Chailey Commons Society Account number: 09298089 Sort Code: 09-01-56 Please quote your surname and initial in the reference box so that your payment can be identified. If you already have a bank standing order in place, please could you check that it is set up to pay the correct amount (£7.00 for a member or £12.00 for a patron). Thank you for your continued support. If you have any membership questions please don’t hesitate to contact me on 01825 722135 or members@chaileycomons.org.uk

Sue Berry

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Autumn Events on Red House Common

Photowalk

A late afternoon walk was led by Ian Seccombe to see the common on the late afternoon light and to discover the results which could be obtained by careful sighting of the camera to create some great results. Getting down low can have interesting results as this reveals a whole new aspect and sight line This fungus growing on a moss lined trunk of a tree has produced a layer effect which, when seen through from a side angle creates this interesting view.

Features of this path view can increase the interest and draw the eye not only along the path but also to the trees beside the path – looking like soldiers on guard duty.

Thanks to Ian for a very interesting and thought provoking walk.

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Deadly or delicious?

Our ever popular Fungus Foray, led once again by Rosalie, was a great fun event for all the family. The children, with their keen and alert interest and sharp eyes can often find the fungus that hide away so well. Here we are, all gathered round, listening to Rosalie explaining some of the finer points of the fungi which are about to go and seek out.

……and this is one which we all recognise - The Fly Agaric

Thank you very much to Rosalie and especially the children for their kelp.

The Ranger’s jottings

This season, we are continuing with some winter grazing of ponies on Red House and Lane End Commons. We decided it wasn’t worth the risk to re-introduce sheep onto Lane End after the dog attacks last year. This is not necessarily ruled out in the future as the sheep are the best animals to tackle the birch regrowth, but steps will need to be taken to reduce the likelihood of further incidents before they are let out onto the common again. The summer pony grazing on Red House last year

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was a success but the livestock was a little too keen to get stuck into the vegetation on the combined commons over the summer so we will be aiming to significantly reduce stocking number for this year from April. Getting the stocking density right to create a diverse mosaic of habitats can be somewhat challenging but it is always helpful when you have flexible graziers. The HLS winter clearance works this year are progressing well. We are focussing our energy on 4 compartments: One on Red House below St George’s where the rangers have been thinning the trees and scrub but retaining dense gorse and bramble patches; one on Pound where they have mainly been removing the birch regrowth from the heather; one on Romany Ridge down at the bottom of North Common Road which was cleared a few years ago but has rapidly recolonised with rampant birch so much of this has been removed and some trees thinned, concentrating on areas which will give the heath more chance to breathe. There is also a compartment on Memorial where small scale tree thinning and some light coppicing around the ponds will be carried out to allow more light in but retaining the important fern and moss species which thrive there. We have managed to secure a small amount of extra money from Natural England to create 3 new scrapes this winter too. One covering 1 hectare on Pound has already been completed-top soil and bracken litter has been removed and the areas re-seeded with seed collected locally from Ashdown Forest. This new scrape has linked 2 existing scrape sites together so in time, this will create a very large area of prime heath, all being well! There is also a 1 hectare scrape planned for Red House common, close to the car park and another on Romany Ridge, also linking 2 existing scrape sites together. We are working with the assistance of the County Archaeologist to ensure no important features are damaged in the process. Over the last year, there have been plans put in place to try and re-wet some of the commons. Wet heath now only covers a tiny proportion of the commons, mainly on Romany Ridge and more work is needed to try and increase the amount to benefit the rare species that depend on in this habitat such as the sundew, big asphodel and marsh gentian. Volunteers have helped to dig out Molinia tussocks to create more pools and edge habitat for species to colonise and we have been working with the Freshwater Habitats Trust and Sussex Wildlife Trust to plan works which will benefit the common. All being well, some of the willow around the pond and adjacent ditch by the car park will be coppiced to help benefit the fairy shrimp, a new pond will be dug and a series of mini-scrapes will be made to create temporary pools for wildlife. This will be part-funded by the Trust. Thinning of some of the trees and willow scrub around Ridley’s pond is also planned and a possible dead hedge around some of the pond to help protect great crested newts and other watery critters that live in the pond from constantly stirred up sediment caused by dogs swimming in the pond. This pond is one of the FHT’s “Flagship ponds” but is in need of some sensitive management to improve its condition. So there’s lots going on. It’s certainly keeping me busy! Bye for now….

Jo Heading (Senior Ranger) Rights of Way and Countryside Maintenance jo.heading@eastsussex.gov.uk

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May we remind our members that they attend all the Society’s meetings and events entirely at their own risk. The Society cannot take responsibility for loss of property or injury to persons during our events.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL

MEETING

CHAILEY COMMONS SOCIETY WILL HOLD THEIR

53rd ANNUAL GENERAL

MEETING

THURSDAY MARCH 16TH 2017

At CHAILEY VILLAGE HALL

AT 7.30.P.M

ALL ARE WELCOME

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

THURSDAY 16th MARCH 2017

AGENDA

1. APOLOGIES

2. MINUTES of 17th MARCH 2016 AND MATTERS

ARISING

3. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

4. TREASURER’S REPORT

5. ADOPTION OF ANNUAL REPORT AND

ACCOUNTS

6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS