Westfield Common Management Plan Summary I Surrey Wildlife Trust | 1

Westfield CommonManagement Plan Summary 2014

Registered Charity No 208123

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Westfield Common Woking Borough Council (WBC) has been working with the Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) and Westfield Common Residents Association (WCRA) to ensure that the ecological components of Westfield Common are managed to enhance the biodiversity of the site.

In order to formalise this, SWT Ecology Services were commissioned by WBC in March 2013 to carry out a suite of surveys on Westfield Common. The aim of these was to assess the overall ecology of the common and gain an understanding of what management is required over the site.

SWT were also commissioned to produce a detailed habitat management plan that took into account both the people and wildlife interests within the common.

Following the surveys SWT and Woking BC presented the findings to local residents and interested parties during an initial public consultation in November 2013. Feedback from this exercise has been included within the management plan for the common.

Great Crested NewtFaye Durkin

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Botanical SurveyThe site contains:• 18.4 ha of Semi-natural broad-leaved woodland.• 3.9 ha of Semi-improved neutral grassland• 0.6 ha of standing water• 40.8 m of species rich hedge• 2285 m of ditches

Surveys have recorded 424 plant species.

In the 2013 surveys:• 3 species recorded are listed on the Surrey

Rare Plants Register (Bladder sedge, Common Bistort and Chamomile).

• 18 neutral grassland indicator species were recorded (15 or more are needed to qualify the site as an SNCI).

• Garden waste has led to an increase in non-native invasive species.

Some grassland and woodland management would benefit the botanical diversity. Leaving areas of longer grass and clearing the garden waste and associated non-native species would also be beneficial.

Breeding Bird Survey30 bird species were observed during the surveys, 21 of these species are assumed to breed on the Common.

AKingfisherhasbeenseenvisitingoneoftheponds on the Common. Dunnock and Song thrush breed on the Common these two bird species are UK BAP Priority species (Species of Principal Importance).

3 bird species recorded on the site are Amber- listed by the RSPB, these are Mistle thrush, Mallard and Stock dove.

Numbers and diversity of breeding birds could be increased by opening up areas of the woodland and creating woodland glades. This would also help woodland butterflies.

Amphibians and Reptiles2 ponds were found to contain Great Crested Newts, these are a rare and declining species which receive strict legal protection and are UK BAP Priority Species. Smooth Newts and Common Frogs were also found.

Slow-worms and Grass Snakes, which are legally protected and UK BAP Priority Species, have previously been recorded by SWT on the common.

Retaining areas of scrub and longer grassland and some habitat creation of hibernacula (such as log piles) in the woodland could benefit these species. The network of ditches and ponds across the common could be restored to benefit wildlife

Bat SurveysSix species of bats were found to be present within the common.

The survey also found Myotis bats (probably Whiskered bats) and Brown Long-eared bats were breeding on the Common.

Retaining the woodland habitat, native understory and old trees as well as restoring the ponds will help the bat population on the common.

DormiceThe presence of Dormice was not established but, given the woodland habitat, their presence is possible.

Retaining areas of scrub and any fruit bearing trees would benefit Dormice.

Management SummaryWestfield Common is important for Biodiversity locally. It is a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI), selected for its rare and protected species, and species rich areas of wet woodland, ditches and ponds.

Results of the Wildlife Surveys

KingfisherMalcolm Brown

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Fifty local residents attended a public consultation held in November 2013 at Moorcroft Centre for the Comunity in Westfield. SWT gave a presentation on the importance of Westfield Common for wildlife, the results of the ecological surveys and some of the management issues. Residents were given the opportunity to put forward how they would like to see the common managed and raise any particular issues they felt needed addressing.

Residents were then asked to vote on their most important management priorities.

They also had the chance to view old maps of the common, record on current maps where they walk and view displays.

What do residents value most about the Common?

Residents stressed the importance of the wildlife listing wild birds, deer, rare plant species, butterflies,newts,ponds,thegreennaturalenvironment and all things bright and beautiful!

Several residents mentioned the tranquillity and rural feel of the site; they like the overall vista of the site with open areas for their dogs along with pockets of woodland and the variety of habitats, such as woodland, grassland and wetlands.

The common is important for informal recreation, such as for dog walking, collecting conkers and exercise. It is particularly valuable as a green corridor with its links to Hoe Valley, Woking, the River Wey and Ripley and is important to walkers as a safe route to school away from the road. It is enjoyed for its landscape value with residents watching the sunset through the trees towards Mayford.

People also value the history of the area and the mixture of Victorian and 1940’s /1960’s houses nearby.

How could the Common be enhanced through this management plan?

The management plan should cover the complete common and management should be gentle with a gradual approach over time.

The consultation raised several issues of gardenwastedumping,fly-tipping,parkingand encroachment on the common which the management plan will attempt to address.

Residents would like to see ditches re-instated along Rosebank Cottages and across the Common and ponds managed and restored, particularly the pond behind St Mark’s church.

The common should be protected from encroachment by vehicle parking on the common by residents and visitors; this is a particular problem at Rosebank Cottages. Access by motorbikes should be controlled.

The rural character of the area should be preserved; for example by removal of WBC blue metal posted signs and tarmac plus an assurance that no additional lighting would be installed (as harmful for wildlife and seen as urbanisation). Bins could be replaced with ones of a more appropriate design and include recycling facilities.

Paths should be maintained with ‘natural surfaces’ in keeping with the woodland, but appropriate for theleveloftraffic;perhapswheelchairfriendly,with board walks through wet areas where necessary.

Woodland management should consider tree management for safety and coppicing with SWT. Residents would also like to see pond management, glades in the woods, restoring space, and management for wildlife, regeneration and clearance of scrubby undergrowth, with the removal of arboreal weeds such as Holly, Silver birches, and Sycamores, control of invasive species and hedgerow management. Some grass areas could be left longer for wildlife.

Education was important to many, with the provisionofinformationboardsonfloraandwildlifeand maps about the common along with walks and talks about the area.

Residents would like to see open spaces maintained for children but no additional formal play areas to be developed.

Results of the Public Consultation

Management should be gentle with a gradual approach over time

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1 Management of invasive species 10 5 15

2 Restore the ponds 11 2 13

3 Dealing with litter clearance including education. 8 1 9

4 Opening up of rides and glades 5 4 9

5 Ecological green corridors 6 2 8

6 Definingtheboundariesforparkingto prevent further encroachment 1 6 7

7 Ditch Maintenance 2 4 6

8 Some grass areas to be left long 1 4 5

9Reinstatement of the Common taken for private use as extension of peoples gardens.

4 4

10 Coppicing 1 3 4

11 Robust and natural paths 4 4

12 Develop board walks across wet areas 4 4

13 Interpretation boards and maps on site 2 2

14 Natural signage 2 2

15 Tree management for safety 2 2

16 Educational talks and walks 1 1

17 Volunteer wildlife surveys 1 1

18 Gentle management over time 1 1

Top Management Priorities for Westfield Common

Priority Number Management Options High Priority Nice to see Total

Results from the public consultation.

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Management PlanAll the above recommendations have been incorporated into the management plan. Proposed installations and habitat management are shown on Figures 7 and 9.

Based upon the Ordnance Survey 1:10 000 Map with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crown Copyright. Licence No. AL100031669.

Figure 7: Westfield Common Proposed Installations

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Figure 9: Westfield Common Management Recommendations

Based upon the Ordnance Survey 1:10 000 Map with the permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Crown Copyright. Licence No. AL100031669.

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Management RecommendationsFollowing all the site visits, ecological surveys and public consultation the information has been collated and the management plan drawn up. The management plan is to be seen as a work in progress that can evolve as more information is gathered. The plan gives work recommendations for 5 years, from 2014 – 2018. The work programme will need to be reviewed annually and the management plan reviewed as a whole in 2018.

InstallationsFollowing the site surveys and public consultation severalissueswereidentifiedwhichneedtobeaddressed such as parking and encroachment on the common. Figure 7 shows proposed installations to help deal with these issues. It is proposed to install a row of wooden posts along Rose Bank Cottages andtheendofWestfieldCommonRoadtopreventparking on the common.

InterpretationIt is proposed to erect three types of sign board across the common, a simple sign board to tell peoplethatthelandispartofWestfieldCommon,Interpretation boards with information about the site, and timber framed Woking Borough Council Signs with the Bylaws for the site.

Site Improvements Benches, waymarker posts and footbridges will also be installed to enhance the visitor experience of the site. Many of the footpaths across the common are waterlogged and muddy in the winter and these will be improved with hogging paths, boardwalks and woodchip where appropriate (see Fig.7).

WoodlandThewoodlandsurveysidentifiedmanynon-native invasive species which are spreading in the woodland and reducing the diversity of the woodland.Publicconsultationidentifiedthisasapriority for the management of the area.

Much of the woodland is young and even aged, periodic thinning will boost woody growth, whilst ensuringlightpenetratesthewoodlandfloorforthefieldlayertoflourish.Itisimportanttothininsmall areas from a practicable point of view, as well as retaining large areas of mature woodland for continuity.

Fig 9 shows the areas of the woodland where thinning of Holly and Sycamore are recommended. Thiswillallowmorelightontothewoodlandfloorandencourageavariedwoodlandfloraandbetterstructural diversity.

Some Holly should also be cut back along the paths to let more light in and help create woodland glades. Any thinning should avoid the bird breeding season from March to the end of August.

Thinning in the southern half of the wood by New Lane should be avoided and Ivy retained as this area is dense and dark, ideal habitat for bats (see Fig 9).Veteran trees will be retained as they are important providing continuity of habitat for wildlife, increased landscape value and provide generations of different aged trees in the locality. They should be regularly monitored for health and safety.

Dead wood should be retained, including standing dead wood which is important and used by a variety of invertebrates, birds and bats. When thinning, some of the wood can be retained to make log or habitat piles.

A variety of bird and bat boxes will be erected on suitable trees lacking holes, away from direct sunlight, and away from roads and ditches where thereisaclearflight.

Scrub HabitatScrub habitat is also important as it greatly adds to the diversity of a site and provides homes for a number of birds and mammals and creates suntraps for invertebrates. The creation and enhancement of a scrub/woodland interface will be a positive enhancement for the site (see Fig 9). This scrub woodland interface should be cut back Every 3 years.

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CoppicingThere are some old Hazel coppice stools in the Woodland down New Lane by The Cottage and these should be re coppiced and some Dormouse tubes installed for monitoring purposes. The ditches and ponds across the common are shaded and overgrown with Willow. These Willow trees will be coppiced to let more light into the ponds and ditches. This will increase the number and diversity oftheaquaticplantsandbenefittheanimallife(Fig9).

Existing and New PondsSeveral of the ponds contain non-native invasive species which if left unchecked will cover the ponds and decrease their diversity. Control of these species will be a priority.Someareasofthewoodlandfloodinthewinterandhere new ponds could be created (see Fig 9). A new pond could also be recreated in the Triangle by Rose Bank Cottages as there was once a pond here.

GrasslandThe majority of grassland on the common is used for amenity purposes, being cut regularly during the summer. Here the bar should be raised to 5cm to help increase the diversity of the grassland. A 3-4m wide area of long grass will be left long along the woodlandedge,toallowtheplantstoflowerandset seed and help increase the diversity of insects, amphibians and small mammals (Fig 9). This will also help to create a woodland scrub edge.Where grasses are left long all summer, getting the timing of the annual cut is essential, too early and the plants will not be able to set their seeds nor will other species such as invertebrates be able to complete their life cycle. The timing of the cut shouldbeflexibletoallowforseasonalchanges,but the guideline is after the end of August. It is essential that all the clippings are taken off site or they will cause enrichment and prevent seeds from reaching the soil surface and germinating. Failing to take the clippings off site will also produces a ‘thatch’ofmaterial,whichmaymakecuttingdifficultthe following year.

Wildflower meadowsTwonewwildflowermeadowswillbecreatedonthe amenity grassland along Moor Lane and by the school on Bonsey Lane. This will increase the diversity of the area and help our threatened bees and other pollinating insects.

Next StepsSurrey Wildlife Trust will work with Westfield Common Residents Association, Hoe Valley Residents Association, Woking Borough Council and local volunteers and residents to help implement the plan. Regular work parties will be organised to help manage the common. Some of the work will require specialist knowledge and machinery and for this work contractors will be needed and hired.

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Produced for Woking Borough Council by Surrey Wildlife Trust.The full Westfield Common Management Plan is available on request. For further information or to get involved in the work to restore the common, please contact Surrey Wildlife Trust.

Email: info@surreywt.org.ukTel: 01483 795478

www.surreywildlifetrust.org

Registered in England No: 645176. President: Dr. David Bellamy OBE. VAT No: 791.3799.78. Registered Charity No: 208123.

Cover images: Song thrush, Amy Lewis; Small copper, Vicky Nall