Aldernbridge Gully, Ballshill Gully, Handpost Gully & surrounding areas

Introduction

Compartment 3 covers the area between the GAMA site and the western edge of New Greenham Park. Its northern boundary is the old southern taxiway and the compartment is bordered by the A339 to the south, but excludes the gravel area that marks the site of an old aircraft turning pan. It is a relatively large compartment totalling 40.78 hectares split between 5 subcompartments. The compartment is a microcosm of the whole site with areas of wet woodland, ponds, bare gravel, scrub, wood pasture, secondary woodland, dry heath and acid grassland. The whole area (with the exception of a number of exclosures set up for botanical monitoring in the valley bottoms) is available for grazing by cattle and Exmoor ponies.

General Description and Evaluation of Ecology

The compartment is varied and contains extensive areas of wet woodland associated with natural seepages, extant ponds and drainage features from the old airfield (3A and 3C). Tall out-grown alder coppice dominates the three main gullies (Ballshill, Handpost and Aldernbridge), which are very deeply incised in places. Willow carr is present in places at the valley heads but generally alder grades to birch, oak (some of it akin to wood pasture) and other species (including some individual rowan) on the higher slopes). There is possible evidence of old woodbanks in places. Ground flora is rich, particularly in the flushes which have a good range of bryophytes (including a number of Sphagnum mosses) and vascular plants such as opposite-leaved golden saxifrage. 3B has areas of open dry heath with acid and neutral grassland, scrub, bracken, mixed woodland, an important wet flush and a series of ephemeral ponds known to support a good population of great crested newts. A number of slopes with a southerly orientation provide good areas for reptiles and invertebrates. There is an artificial fenced pond at the head of Aldernbridge Gully which is of interest. Scots pine, birch, sycamore and holly grade into scrub, bracken and some pioneer communities in subcompartment 3D with an area of scrub, grassland and bare gravels at 3E, particularly suitable for woodlark and nightjar.

BAP habitats

Lowland Heathland (3B, 3E)
Ponds (3B)
Wet Woodland (3A, 3C)

Higher Level Stewardship

Overall management objectives

The areas of wet woodland, almost exclusively alder, and the existing structure of the woodland - typified by tall mature mainly single-stemmed individuals with a ground layer rich in bryophytes - will be maintained as such with minimal intervention. Wet species-rich flushes will be safeguarded, if necessary removing some scrub where there is evidence that these are drying out. The drier woodland on the upper slopes and higher ground will be retained favouring oak over birch where this is akin to wood pasture. Other individual trees including rowan, holly and veteran birch specimens will be retained.

Areas of wet and dry heath will be retained and where possible extended by scalloping the edges of adjacent secondary woodland and removing a proportion of scrub. Scrub, predominantly birch, will be maintained along the woodland and heathland edge and cut in small sections to provide an important cover and wood/heath edge habitat. The ephemeral ponds will be retained, enhanced and added to, creating a greater network. The wide screen of woodland alongside the A339 will be maintained.

There will be some selective felling of Scots pine, sycamore and birch to benefit ground flora and to extend areas of heath but many large mature trees will be retained as fungal hosts and to benefit birds and invertebrates.

Gorse scrub will largely be retained but managed by coppicing to provide a varied age structure. Thickets of bramble will be retained where possible to provide habitat for reptiles, small mammals and birds.

The mosaic of bare gravels, open grassland and scrub will be managed to favour ground-nesting birds including woodlark, nightjar, lapwing and little ringed plover.

Subcompartment 3A (7.6 ha)

The area known as Aldernbridge Gully is characterised by wet woodland - exclusively tall, out-grown alder coppice on the valley floor and lower slopes fed by springs, seepages and the pond from the former airfield at the head of the valley. There are two small tributary streams. Woodland on the higher slopes is predominantly oak (akin to wood pasture) and birch with some willow carr and wet birch at the valley head. The ground flora is rich on the valley floor, markedly so around the springs and seepages with a range of bryophytes (including some Sphagnum mosses) and vascular plants including opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage. The water is extremely iron-rich, this is more prominent towards the head of the valley and may originate from water seeping through metal debris left over from the airfield. There are some old open-growth hawthorns on drier slopes in this compartment and some evidence of woodbanks.

Objective	Area	Method	Comment
1) Maintain as high forest by minimal intervention until 2011.	Alder woodland on valley floor and lower slopes.	Minimal - intervention of the woodland to allow it to move towards ‘high forest’.	Subject to review of alder management in all the gullies across the common by 2011. To include the incorporation of objectives set out in Nature Bureau (2009) survey: Bryophytes and lichens on Greenham and Crookham Commons (T Haynes 2009).
2) Investigate water source and quality by 2011.	Head of valley.	Seek advice from Environment Agency.	Pronounced iron enrichment.
3) Maintain woodland screen alongside A339.	Wide, mainly birch woodland screen in SW corner.	method.
4) Repair exclosures in valley bottom by 2011.	Either side of gully towards southern end.	Re-construct damaged parts.	To be used in alder gully monitoring highlighted in surveys.

Subcompartment 3B (11.9 ha)

Known as Ballshill Heath this is diverse area incorporating dry heath, acid grassland with bracken and an important wet flush. There are areas of scrub (gorse and birch) and secondary birch woodland with some older mixed woodland, with a large proportion of oak. There is also a small clump of suckering aspen. The fenced pond remaining from the days of the airbase is at the northern end of this sub-compartment and old gravel winning pits have formed a series of ephemeral ponds, important strongholds for great crested newts. The undulating topography at the southern end is of importance, not least for the series of south-facing slopes which provide basking areas for reptiles and a warm microclimate for invertebrates. A fenced concrete lined pond constructed during the military period lies at the northern end.

Objective	Area	Method	Comment
1) Maintain extent of dry heath and increase areas where possible.	Aldernbridge Heath.	Graze extensively. Control bracken using a combination of cutting by hand or rolling in spring to bruise stems and weaken rhizomes, followed by application of fern-specific herbicide (Asulox or alternative). Remove selected birch scrub and treat stumps where good patches of heather persist under canopy. Retain single trees and clumps/thickets of birch scrub and bramble across the open heath to provide cover and structural diversity. Retain a birch scrub edge on woodland and heath margins. Retain concrete and other rubble as hibernacula and basking areas in NE corner of compartment. Retain and enhance log and brash habitat piles for amphibians around ponds and across compartment. .	Due to very short nature and ample bare ground, the heath should not be mown in the short term to allow greater structural diversity over next 5 years.
2) Maintain woodland screen alongside A339.	Wide, mainly birch woodland screen in SW corner.	Non-intervention. Retain any standing or fallen dead wood.
3) Open up and repair pond by 2011.	Head of feeder stream into Aldernbrige Gully.	Cut and remove birch from wet flush to prevent it from drying out. Coppice selected individual stems of alder. Focus on the south side. Dig up and remove 1/3 of reedmace each year. Investigate and repair seepage to retain water for longer into the summer. .	Maintain a screen to general public.
4) Maintain pond complex.	Newt ponds.	Cut and remove willow and other scrub encroaching at pond edges. Reduce overall cover by 1/3, particularly on southern edges. Dig out 1/4 to 1/3 of main pond each year.	Further ponds and their management will be identified in Pond Management Plan.
5) Increase area of acid grassland/heathland by 2015.	SE corner, woodland edge.	Scallop edges of birch woodland to free acid grassland/heath from canopy cover and remove selected birch, treat stumps.

Subcompartment 3C (7.3 ha)

The area known as Ballshill Gully and Handpost Gully is characterised by wet woodland. This rises to drier elevated land at Peaked Hill which separates these two small valleys and up to higher ground to the west and east. Similar in appearance and composition to Aldernbridge Gully to the west (3A) the valley floors have tall alder coppice with a wide selection of bryophytes and typical wet woodland ground flora. However, Handpost Gully in particular is much more steep sided and ravine-like with pools and riffles clearly evident. Further up the valley slopes there are some good individual rowans and holly while at the top of the slope there is a distinct change to birch with elements of oak wood pasture as in 3A, particularly evident in the west of the sub-compartment. There are areas of bracken on the upper slope tops the east and west of the subcompartment and willow carr at the head of the valley.

Objective	Area	Method	Comment
1) Maintain wet woodland as high forest by minimal intervention until 2011.	Alder woodland on valley floor and lower slopes.	Minimal intervention in the woodland to allow it to move towards ‘high forest’. Retain any standing and fallen dead wood as habitat for invertebrates, fungi, bryophytes and vascular plants. Maintain wet flush bryophytes. Retain individual rowan and holly on east side of Handpost Gully upper slopes.	Subject to review of alder management in all the gullies across the common by 2011. To include the incorporation of objectives set out in Nature Bureau (2009) survey: Bryophytes and lichens on Greenham and Crookham Commons. (T Haynes 2009).
2) Maintain and enhance where possible the oak ‘wood-pasture’.	Oak and birch area on higher slopes of valley.	Graze extensively. Fell or ring bark selected birch where these are to the detriment of the oak wood pasture. Promote oak regeneration by planting or protect existing saplings from grazing. Control individual young or seedling birch by cutting, treat stumps to prevent re-growth. Retain any standing or fallen dead wood.	Collection and propagation of acorns or oak seedlings from the common would provide a suitable source.
3) Diversify structure of willow carr and maintain extent.	Head of valley NW corner of subcompartment.	Coppice selected willows annually or biennially on a 10 year rotation (<50% total in this period) to maintain carr habitat, reduce potential drying out and maintain good cover.
4) Maintain woodland screen alongside A339.	Woodland screen in SW corner.	Non-intervention. Retain any standing or fallen dead wood.
5) Repair exclosures in valley bottom by 2011.	Either side of gully towards southern end.	Re-construct damaged parts.	To be used in alder gully monitoring highlighted in surveys.

Subcompartment 3D (3.8 ha)

This subcompartment is predominantly wooded and includes areas of mature Scots pine, birch, sycamore and holly. There is some younger birch scrub over relict heathland and other scrub components elsewhere including gorse, blackthorn and willow. An area of gravel occupies the position of a former fuel depot at the northern end of the subcompartment. This has been colonised by a range of pioneer grassland species and vigorous scrub including buddleia and willow.

Objective	Area	Method
1) Maintain, and where possible, expand area of heathland/grassland by 2015.	To south west of former fuel depot and to north.	Graze extensively. Fell birch and remove scrub where it shades existing heather and grasses, treat stumps. Spread forage-harvested cuttings of heather from elsewhere on site on a small trial are of bare gravels adjacent to this area. Where necessary scrape or scarify using a digger bucket/grading bar/attachment to retain areas of bare gravel and reset succession within this mosaic. Retain a scrub screen alongside the path.
2) Increase and retain woodland structural diversity by 2015.	To south of former fuel depot (open gravel area).	Identify good mature pines and thin selected trees around them and/or widen ride to benefit ground flora and invertebrates. Retain stand of mature birch immediately to north of Brackenhurst Lane property.
3) Reduce buddleia and willow extent by 25% by 2015.	Former fuel depot site (open gravel area).	Cut and treat stumps.
4) Control erosion by mountain bikes.	Steep paths through woodland.	Positively reinforce suitable routes by selective felling of trees and scrub.

Subcompartment 3E (10.2 ha)

This is the area to the south of the southern taxiway near the fire plane and surrounding an old turning pan at the edge of the former airfield. Characterised by a series of structures from airfield days it includes a variety of disturbed and early successional habitats. There are patches of birch and bramble scrub, bare gravels, heathland and species-poor grassland. This area and the adjacent part of compartment 16 are of significance for nightjar, woodlark, little ringed plover, ringed plover, lapwing, meadow pipit plus a number of other bird species including linnet and nightingale. One of the old buildings has been modified for use as a summer bat roost.

Objective	Area	Method	Comment
1) Extend heathland by 2015.	Western edge of subcompartment.	Graze extensively. Fell and clear birch and other species in including bramble where these are shading out heather but retain thickets for structural diversity and for species such as nightingale.
2) Reduce opportunities for crow predation of ground-nesting birds.	Adjacent to compartment 16 south.	Remove tall trees and scrub.	These can be used by crows to watch ground nesting birds.
3) Manage bramble and birch scrub.	Throughout subcompartment.	Graze extensively. Clear a selection (>30% of existing cover over the period) of bramble and birch scrub on open grassy and heath areas to benefit grassland/heath and retain structural diversity. Do not treat.	Bramble provides good shelter and nesting opportunities for a range of fauna and a nectar source for invertebrates.
4) Reduce dominance of Ragwort.	Open grassy area at NW end of sub-compartment.	Spray with Glyphosate (Roundup) or Barrier H at rosette stage and/or pull by hand and remove before it sets seed (annually).	Ragwort seed from here blows across the site and onto the neighbouring business park.
5) Maintain extent of gorse cover, and diversify structure by 2015.	NE corner of sub-compartment, adjacent to Business Park.	Cut bays into eastern and/or northeastern edges of gorse by hand or with chainsaw to provide shelter on leeward side and increase structural diversity. Maintain bays by coppicing.
5) Retain and create bare gravel areas.	Adjacent to Compartment 16 south.	Scrape using digger bucket/grading bar/attachment to remove any soil and get down to gravels either in discrete patches of early successional stage vegetation or circumscribing Compartment 16 to a width of 5m.	Important ground nesting bird breeding and foraging area.