The aim of the project
To preserve and enhance the rare wildflower grasslands and healthland that have been vanishing over the last 60 years by returning to the form of traditional management that created them in the first place. The most sustainable way to do this is to introduce conservation grazing a form of management that would allow people to continue to enjoy walking, riding and playing on the commons.
The partnership
The South Hertfordshire Commons Grazing Group has representatives from the parish councils of Chorleywood and Colney Heath, along with St Albans District Council and the Countryside Management Service. The group has come together as a partnership to investigate the possibility of reintroducing grazing to the 4 commons under their management: Chorleywood Common, Colney Health, Nomansland and Bricket Wood Common. By working together, the group can benefit from each others’ experience and discuss solutions to shared difficulties.
Consultation
The aims of the initial public consultation were to collect the views of the public and to identify areas of potential concern. The consultation process included: well attended open days on each of the commons; information drops to all properties surrounding the commons; discussions with public bodies like Natural England, Herts.Highways, the Local Access Forum, the Open Spaces Society, the British Horse Society, and the Ramblers Association; and opportunities for people to register their concerns and support via return slips and this website. The initial consultation has now finished and the results are being evaluated. Each of the partnership members is reviewing their original proposals accordingly.
Follow the links to find out more about each of the Commons and where fencing would be required to enable it to happen.
For more information please contact us.
