Lodge Hill revitalisation
Final details for the launch of the revitalisation of Lodge Hill have been agreed.
It will be a pop-in event from 1:30 to 4:30pm at the Village Hall on Saturday February 24th enabling the local community to see what is being planned and hopefully get involved.
At the event, at 2:30pm, local naturalist Michael Blencowe will give a presentation about the species that live on the hill, and how we intend to nurture them and hopefully attract exciting new ones.
The foundation will also be funding opportunities for local people to see for themselves, by organising free wildlife walks on Lodge Hill with Michael. People will be able to sign up for these at the event.
Provisionally we are planning a bat evening on Friday May 3 from 8-9:30pm, and a butterfly Walk on July 6 from 2:30-4pm. It is also hoped we can organise a general wildlife walk in the Spring with all timings confirmed by the time of the meeting.
The event will also showcase the Foundation’s partners and other groups enhancing our local environment including: The Monday Group, Ditchling Orchard Group, The Ditchling Society, Lost Woods; Ditchling History Group Traditional Landscapes and Batcheller Monkhouse.
There will also be free coffee, tea and cakes and trustees of the Turner-Dumbrell Foundation will be available to answer any questions local people may have about the plans.
The five-year plan was drawn up by Dolphin Ecological Surveys after a study of the flora and fauna on the site, with the work funded by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA).
The report identified a range of protected and designated animal and plant species and the management plan, which covers Lodge Hill and its neighbouring fields, sets out measures to nurture them and enhance the overall biodiversity of the site.
One of the priorities is to reduce the bracken and brambles, which are threatening to overwhelm parts of the site, and to help with this livestock will be reintroduced to graze on Lodge Hill.
The report also notes that the lower slopes of Lodge Hill have a drainage problem with deep mud affecting accessibility, particularly in the winter months, and it suggests that new two ponds could help to solve this issue.
If you would like to see the full report by Dolphin Ecological Surveys it can be downloaded here.
