| Bristol Side of the Gorge & Downs |
| Managing the Bristol side of the Gorge |
The Avon Gorge is famous for its rare plants. To ensure these plants survive the area has to be managed.
Kate Jeffreys, Nature Conservation Officer for English Nature explains, "The Avon Gorge is home to rare and endangered plants, ancient woodland and grasslands, all important in an international context. The rare plants inhabit open grasslands and rock faces, but unfortunately many of these areas have become over-grown with scrub and secondary woodland over the last few decades. Trees and shrubs shade out and kill grassland and rare plants growing beneath them”.
“Current conservation activities form major ongoing restoration work, which is taking place in the Gorge. In the past the Gorge was grazed by sheep, which would have kept grassy areas, where the rare plants thrive, free from scrubby bushes and trees. The overall aim is to link up the fragmented areas of grassland creating a haven for plants like the Bristol rock-cress to survive. Without this work, the special value and character of the Gorge may be lost forever."
Since 1999 conservation workers have been helping to save these grassland plants. Working on behalf of the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project, the specially trained workers have been selectively removing trees and shrubs from certain areas of the Gorge. During the 2004/5 and 2005/6 winter seasons conservation efforts have been concentrated in the Gully / Walcombe Slade area of the Avon Gorge. This work will allow rarities such as Bristol whitebeam, Bristol rock-cress and dwarf sedge to survive and thrive. |
| Managing the Downs |
The Downs are common land, and for centuries commoners exercised their rights to graze animals here. The constant nibbling of sheep helped to maintain the variety of wild flowers and to prevent the growth of trees and shrubs. When grazing stopped in the 1920s, scrub started to smother the rare plant life of this once open and treeless downland. Nowadays, mowing and careful management have replaced the crucial role of the sheep.
Certain areas of the Downs, the bits with the best un-improved limestone grassland (ie, areas which have never had fertilisers put on them and have the widest variety of flowers and grasses) are left to grow tall during the spring and early summer. These areas are managed like meadow areas. After the plants have flowered and set seed these areas are cut in late July and the hay is taken away for composting. This keeps the vigorous grasses from taking over and swamping out the smaller wildflowers. |
Unless otherwise stated all other images belong to the National Trust or the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project.
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