Downland Clearing
With winter arriving, now that flowers have gone to seed and invertebrates are dormant, the estate team is completing the final mowing on the downland. This includes areas of grassland upon the escarpment next to Eastbourne.
If these areas are left for too long, bramble quickly takes hold and can smother the finer grassland species.
Livestock Grazing
The traditional grazing of livestock for conservation reasons on the open downland has been delayed due to Foot and Mouth and Blue Tongue disease restrictions. However it is hoped that livestock can start grazing the clifftop areas by Christmas.
Grazing helps to maintain and enhance the quality of chalk grassland as it reduces nutrients, which in turn reduces competition between coarse grasses and allows finer species and flowers to spread.
Full details are provided in the recently revised Eastbourne Downland Management Plan.
Coppicing
Volunteer Rangers from the South Downs Joint Committee are coppicing scrub blocks this winter, mostly above Whitbread Hollow.
Many of the scrub bushes are now approaching old age, having established on the steep grassland slopes about 60 years ago after livestock grazing stopped and Myxomatosis decimated the wild rabbit population.
Coppicing allows the sprouting of new growth from the cut stumps, which through time creates a variety of scrub blocks of differing stages of growth. This is of benefit for both wildlife and for revealing the outstanding seaward views along the nearby South Downs Way path.
Contractors will also be carrying out scrub management works at a variety of sites along the eastern escarpment from Whitbread Hollow to Butts Lane above Willingdon. This is mostly coppicing of scrub blocks with some tree removal, to halt woodland succession within scrub blocks.
Guided Walks
Rights of way signs on the downs are currently being improved, with the installation of fingerposts supplied by the South Downs Joint Committee. This is to encourage visitors to explore further than the well used clifftop and escarpment ridge paths.
The Eastbourne Downland has a very good network of footpaths and bridleways to explore, which can be used to make a series of good circular routes from the many car parks here.
Come and join the Downland Ranger for a guided walk or mountain bike ride, which are advertised in the East Sussex County Council’s (ESCC) ‘Exploring East Sussex’ brochure. You can download the brochure directly from the ESCC website, or contact the Downland Ranger:
