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Plumpton Habitat Survey Group
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January 2008
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| BACKGROUND |
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Under the guidance of the Sussex Wildlife Trust, an informal group of local residents was formed in order to carry out an initial survey of the habitat within the Parish of Plumpton in East Sussex. The Group, known as the Plumpton Habitat Survey Group (PHSG) undertook to do a "Phase One Habitat Survey" in order to give a "snapshot" of the land use within the Parish and a deeper understanding of the natural habitat of the area. |
APPROACH |
| The initial Group was made up of people with a wide-ranging set of aspirations: |
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Those who wanted to gain a "sense of place" and enjoyed working in a group to find out more about the location that they live in, whether it be for private contemplation of the Downs, walking along the footpaths or exercising the dog. Those who approach this kind of work from a historical or archaeological viewpoint and want to establish a dateline marker for comparison with earlier historical records, maps or surveys. In turn, the survey produced by the initial PHSG can be used for comparison with any future survey. Those who came with a scientific knowledge wanting to establish the basic habitat of the locale, to identify those specific locations in the parish worthy of further detailed research, whether it be ancient woodlands, flower meadows or streams. Those who came with a keen interest in environmental issues, to establish a basic understanding of the habitat of the parish so that the community can better learn how to protect the natural character of the area perhaps through tree preservation or pond clearance, ie so that local people are better informed to make the right decisions about the environment of the parish. |
PARTICIPANTS |
| The following people were involved in the Phase One Habitat Survey: Lynne Baxter, Victor Briceno, Liz Halliday, Tony Hutson, Chris Manwaring, Christine & David Millum, Jacqui Morris, Eric & Linda Moquet, Jeanie Muddle, Mike Murphy, Carole & Paul Nicholson, Foye Ridley, Ivan & Rosalie Sinclair-Smith, Jim & Chris Thompson. |
OUTPUT |
| It was intended that the end product would be a snapshot in 2004/05 of the local natural environment presented as a coloured map of local habitats with descriptive notes. It will be known as the Phase One Plumpton Habitat Survey based on broad-brush plant-life descriptions, providing a structure for future investigation. In the future, it is possible that the PHSG may conduct a Phase Two survey collecting more information about specific habitats highlighted in Phase One eg the waterways, or ancient hedgerows. Phase Three may choose to focus on other forms of wildlife such as birds and wild animals. |
FUNDING |
| As the PHSG was effectively working on behalf of the parish, it seemed appropriate to apply for funding from Plumpton Parish Council and the Plumpton Millennium Fund. Initial funding of £150 was obtained, with an understanding that the survey would be made available to the community as a whole. Costs to date have amounted to approximately £47 with further costs of preparing presentation material anticipated. |
TIMESCALE |
| The survey work commenced in the early summer of 2004. The results were collated and marked up on the map during the course of the winter 2004/05, using a system of coding specified by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The completed article was presented to the Sussex Biodiversity Centre in March 2005 for subsequent input to a central computerised database. The first presentation of the findings was made to part of the parish in May 2005. |
PROCEDURE |
| Guidance Once a small team of volunteers, committed to the project, was assembled, initial advice, guidance and training was obtained from the Community Wildlife Officer of the Sussex Wildlife Trust, which included a training walk to establish the survey techniques and the depth of analysis required. Mapping A letter was drafted for the surveyors to present to landowners in advance, seeking permission to go onto private land, where access from public rights of way was not possible. Method Target notes were used where they contributed to characterising the site eg coppicing within an ancient woodland; species-rich hedge; or perhaps for future reference details of bird life identified, or animals seen at a location. Photographs were also taken and referenced using the standard grid referencing system. |
EVENTS SINCE 2005 |
| Due to the time-consuming nature of the work, the draft digitised map was not returned to Plumpton for review until 2007. However, comments have been received from the original Survey Group and it is anticipated that the completed map will be available some time during the course of 2008. As mentioned above, recorded on the map are numerous so-called "target notes" which record those areas that Survey Group members felt to be particularly noteworthy eg unimproved grassland; ancient woodland; significant individual trees; wildlife rich habitats etc. These target notes were used in December 2007 to record those individual trees and woodland areas which the Survey Group felt should be protected in all future planning proposals. This report "Tree Preservation Orders For Consideration by Plumpton Parish Council - December 2007" was adopted by Plumpton Parish Council and has been passed to Lewes District Council for noting. (To view this report please click on the Word or PDF link below.) |
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| It is anticipated that similar studies might be conducted in the future that are habitat or wildlife species specific eg nightingales; kingfishers |
CONTACTS |
| If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to contact: |
| Carole Nicholson - carole.nicholson3@virgin.net Jacqui Morris |
| DISCLAIMER |
| The Plumpton Parish Habitat Survey Group is not a part of Plumpton Parish Council, though Plumpton Parish Council is represented on the committee by Carole Nicholson. The views, comments and actions of the Plumpton Parish Habitat Survey Group do not represent those of Plumpton Parish Council. |