Decision - Cityparks Downland Management

(1)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment approves the grazing plans for each site subject to full consultation with ward councillors and residents.

(2)         That the Cabinet Member for Environment approves the implementation of the grazing plans for key chalk downland sites where feasible, subject to the above consultation being completed successfully.

To implement a more sustainable method of managing Cityparks chalk grassland sites.

Mowing is inferior to grazing:

§         it can cause severe disruption to grassland invertebrates and ground nesting birds;

§         it cannot be used on the steeper slopes (where much of the remaining chalk grassland is found);

§         it is uniform in its application and therefore prevents the establishment of swards of varying height, which are favoured by some chalk grassland species; and

§         it damages chalk grassland features such as ant hills and some archaeology.

The cost comparisons of continuing to mow our chalk grassland sites vary due to soil type and from year to year due to the weather. In total in 2007 it cost £16,000 to cut, clear and compost. In 2008 it is estimated this would have increased to between £28,000 and £48,000 - depending on the weather - due to increased fuel and composting costs (as a result sites were cut but not cleared or composted).