£50,000 boost for Reigate Heath to improve rare habitat
News release dated 14 April 2008 about a successful bid for funding to help with the management of Reigate Heath.
Reigate Heath is set to benefit from grant funding of almost £50,000 to ensure that ongoing restoration of the Heath’s rare habitats can continue.
"The grant will ensure that the important work to restore Reigate Heath’s sensitive habitats can continue." (Cllr Julian Ellacott, Executive Member for Environment)
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council will receive the ten-year funding under Natural England’s Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Scheme.
Reigate Heath is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), one of the most important wildlife designations nationally, and a Local Nature Reserve (LNR), as it is an important example of a lowland heath habitat, especially the acid grassland found there.
Reigate Heath
Cllr Julian Ellacott, Executive Member for Environment, said: "This funding is great news and is testament to the good work already going on to restore Reigate Heath’s sensitive heathland habitats and improve its biodiversity and amenity value to local residents. The grant will ensure that this important work can continue.”
The grant will fund further management of the scrubland and trees that have gradually invaded the Heath as well as a feasibility study that will look into restoring lost wetland habitats through the removal of turf, allowing heather seeds that have been in the soil for many years to germinate.
The Stewardship Scheme will be implemented by the Council's Parks and Countryside Team in partnership with Reigate Heath Management Steering Group.
Cllr Mrs Lisa Brunt, Chairman of Reigate Heath Management Steering Group, said: "The work on Reigate Heath is carried out under the Reigate Heath Management Plan, which has been in place for nearly 15 years.
"The management plan takes into account the needs of all users of the Heath, so as not to compromise its nature conservation value, the landscape or the needs of users."
Managing Reigate Heath
Over many years Reigate Heath has gradually scrubbed and then wooded over resulting in a loss of this rare heathland habitat.
In recent years the Council has been working in partnership with Natural England and the Reigate Heath Management Steering Group to restore the lost heathland habitats.
80 percent of lowland heath habitat in the world has disappeared over the last 200 years and as a result a great many species that can only exist on heathland have either become extinct or are becoming increasingly rare.
The Heath's SSSI status means the Council has a statutory duty to actively manage the site for its nature conservation value.
Natural England has to approve any works undertaken to ensure that they improve the heathland habitat and contribute to its SSSI status.
The beneficial effects of the restoration work has been recognised by Natural England, who assessed the Heath as being in favourable condition.
Reigate Heath Management Steering Group comprises representatives of the many different user groups of the Heath, including the Reigate Area Conservation Volunteers, Reigate Heath Golf Club, horseriders, cricket and football players and walkers.
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