Decision

Mare Hill Common supports a number of rare and protected wildlife habitats and species, and is designated as a National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.
Mare Hill is managed under both a countryside stewardship grant agreement overseen by Natural England, and a woodland management plan agreed with the Forestry Commission. This contract will enable the delivery of works to meet the objectives of these agreements through improving the condition and quality of wildlife habitats on Mare Hill.
This work will involve the removal of selected pine trees from within dense stands on both the heathland and woodland areas of Mare Hill. Remaining trees will be freed from competition, giving them more light and space to develop, and shading of surrounding specialised wet and dry heathland plant communities will be reduced.
The value of this contract will be fixed.

Reasons for the decision

To enable the Council to fulfil its’ obligations under both the countryside stewardship agreement and woodland management plan for Mare Hill Common. This work will enhance the condition of rare heathland habitat on Mare Hill and adjacent woodland, and will further the Council’s progress towards Mare Hill achieving favourable habitat condition status for the rare wildlife it supports.

Alternative options considered

To not carry out pine thinning and removal on Mare Hill Common. Areas of rare and threatened heathland habitat on Mare Hill would remain in a poor ecological condition, heavily shaded by dense mature pine trees. The Council would be unable to fulfil the objectives of its woodland management plan for Mare Hill, with a significant area of woodland remaining dominated by dense uniform pine which offer poor biodiversity value.