Ref: CSFF140013
Lead: Lucy Carnaghan, lucycarnaghan@hotmail.com
Group members: 41
Length of agreement: 3
Area of group (Hectares): 5001
Biodiversity- of the 4 priority habitats, 2 are present – floodplain grazing marsh and associated fresh water ditches; wet grassland.
SSSI – the project area is in un-favourable recovering condition. Also RAMSAR & SAC designated. It is a key priority to extend and link existing habitats to increase connectivity and reduce fragmentation – to use fringing to buffer access and create natural ecotones to manage predators, introduce wet grassland expertise and rush control, address Crassula sp. issue across the levels – whilst contributing to significant improvements in water and air quality, flood and coastal risk management.
Priority Species – of the six listed, all are present. Landowners in the respective areas will be provided with guidance and specialist training on how to manage for them identification and landowner surveys.
The Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package – the grassland options should be deliverable on all farms applying, and the facilitator would ensure there is a level of coordination between neighbouring holdings.
Water – Wallers Haven, Manxey and Hankham levels, east of Windmill Hill and north east of Herstmonceux – options to reduce the amount and rate of surface water run off, reduce soil erosion and slow the movement of water should be deliverable on holdings in these areas, with the facilitator co-ordinating same. Working with SEW & CSF to address phosphate and pesticide issues in the Pevensey catchment.
Historic environment – mainly below ground – options would be selected to remove and control scrub, with facilitator co-ordinating.
