Forest Copse Appeal: one year on

By Ryan Allison

Site Manager - West

This time last year we asked for support to add three fields to our reserve at Ebernoe Common. Over 1500 people kindly supported our appeal. Thanks to these generous contributions, we were able to expand this amazing site for wildlife.

A year down the line I want to tell you about some of the exciting things we’re seeing, as well as about the work that has taken place at the fields, and also to extend our heartfelt thanks once again for all your support.

Since the purchase a year ago, Forest Copse has been allowed to rest and recover. This has allowed time for flora to be surveyed and for staff to get a feel for areas that may need a helping hand to reset.

I've visited the site regularly over the intervening months and have noticed areas that are slightly damper, facilitating wetland loving plants. Some of these areas may, in time, lend themselves to being dug out as ponds or scrapes. Also, leaky dams may be created to intercept surface water. Areas where grass dominates are being considered for a mechanical cut and collect, which will help reduce the vigour of the grasses, allowing more diverse and delicate meadow species to thrive.

The central field in particular is living up to its name of ‘Forest Copse’ by having saplings of Oak, Hazel, and scrub species bursting out of the ground. There are also some spring woodland plants (and Ancient Woodland Indicator Species) around the hedges, particularly Pignut, which is really widespread throughout, as well as Wood Anemone and Bluebell. We hope these will spread further as some tree cover and scrub elements develop.

There are also indicator species of damp neutral grassland including Sneezewort, and Black Knapweed which is a key indicator of Lowland Meadow priority habitat.

Over the year we’ve worked to get the infrastructure for grazing in place such as fencing and troughs. This has allowed us to recently put cattle into the central field of Forest Copse for the first time since we purchased the land.

To enable livestock to graze over a larger area and move between these fields and the wider reserves, our Midweek Hit Squad volunteers and Rangers have reinstated a gateway, previously hidden under scrub in the hedgerow between Forest Copse and the sloping Furnace Meadow.

Allowing cattle to graze and trample areas should open up the sward a little and having them move between these new fields and Furnace Meadow (the existing reserve) should also help to spread some of the more localised species, such as Pepper Saxifrage. Hopefully the Yellow Meadow Ants in Furnace Meadow will also move up the hill….

We’re so grateful in what we have achieved together. Each piece of land we can save for wildlife is a victory for nature and is a testament to the unswerving commitment of supporters like you.

Thank you to all the Sussex Wildlife Trust members and supporters who make our work possible.