Reserve management success at Iping Common

CEO Chris Corrigan paid a recent visit to Iping Common nature reserve, where he was delighted to observe a double figure count of Silver-studded Blue Butterflies, as well as the Common Dodder plant, (not common and have declined).

Ryan Allison, Site Manager - West explains how the management of the reserve has led to these successes:

This area in the west of Iping Common, part of Iping and Stedham Commons nature reserve, was last mown in autumn 2023. 

In this part of the reserve we have heather-dominated dry, sandy soil. As part of our management strategy, we have undertaken semi-regular mowing in small, select areas, every five years or so, in order to keep the heather short and in an early stage of its growth cycle. 

We have also ‘turf-stripped’ in order to expose the sandy soil – which is an ecotone (or transitional area between two ecological areas) that many heathland specialist invertebrates and reptiles need. 

This also encourages germination of delicate plants that may otherwise be crowded out by the more vigorous heather, gorse and grass species. The area then grades into a taller shrub layer, bordering where we have cut. The results of this mowing can look severe at first (which can be a bit stressful!), but playing the long game pays off, as we can see here.

The now-rare Silver-studded Blue Butterfly (GB Red List (2022): Vulnerable) only lays its eggs in heathland vegetation sorter than 10cm, where there are Black Ants present. Ants require the warmth from the sun for their colonies. Similar to a Cuckoo, Silver-studded Blues are raised by adoptive parents of another species. With the ants taking the caterpillars into their chambers and tending to them as their own; until they emerge as an adult butterfly.

Large herbivore grazing is an essential part of the heathland ecosystem. At Iping and Stedham, the cattle graze the grasses and other herbs, aiding in keeping the habitat in balance. The effect of them pulling out plants and their hooves slightly disturbing the soil, further adds to the exposed warm soil areas.

There have also been sightings in the past weeks of singing Yellowhammer, Tree Pipit, Dartford Warbler, and on an evening survey (comprising myself, Ranger Dav Bridger, a SDNP Ranger, and local Parish Councillor) we heard a churring Nightjar – all within 100m of this area. 

All of these birds listed nest on or within a few centimetres of the ground. In late-April, one of volunteer wildlife surveyors recorded Adder carrying out their mating displays close to this area alongside the path.