Conservation

The Parks Service of the Velocity Interoperability Network manages the six reserves in its register first for their habitats and the species that depend on them, and the six parks so that wildlife is sustained alongside their use by visitors. The work is carried out by the rangers of the three area teams and by registered volunteers, under a seasonal calendar that follows the breeding, flowering and migration of the species concerned.

Programmes. The Service's conservation work falls into seven programmes.

Grassland and meadow

The hay meadows of Eastfield Meadows and Northgate Common are cut once a year in late summer, after the flowers have seeded, and the aftermath is grazed. On Highfold Ridge the chalk grassland is kept open by grazing and by the clearance of encroaching scrub each winter.

Wetland and water

Water levels at Meridian Marsh and Longwater are managed through the year for breeding birds in spring and wintering wildfowl in autumn. Reedbeds are cut in rotation so that a proportion is always mature. Water quality is sampled monthly at both reserves.

Heathland

Kestrel Heath is being restored from bracken and encroaching birch to open heath. Ground-nesting birds are protected by the closure of the heath from 1 March to 31 July, and reptiles by the retention of basking areas and refuges.

Woodland

Ashcombe Forest and Westbrook Woods are managed by thinning and natural regeneration, with standing and fallen deadwood retained for fungi, insects and cavity-nesting birds. Every tree beside a path, road or car park is inspected annually for safety.

Coast

At Saltings Shore Reserve the saltmarsh, shingle and dune are surveyed for erosion twice a year. Beach-nesting birds are protected by roped-off areas from April to August, and the dunes by boardwalks and fencing.

Species monitoring

Breeding bird surveys, bat surveys, butterfly transects and a wildflower census are carried out at every reserve by rangers and trained volunteers. Results are recorded in the Service's monitoring register and reported annually.

Invasive species

Listed invasive plants are controlled at every site under a programme reviewed each year. Visitors are asked to clean footwear and equipment before entering the wetland reserves to prevent the spread of non-native species.

Designated habitats. The six reserves extend to 1,412 hectares. The principal habitat and interest of each is recorded below and will be described in detail in the management plans.

The conservation calendar. The programme of work and the restrictions on access and permits follow the calendar below. Dates may be brought forward or delayed by the weather; changes are posted at the site concerned.

1. September

   Meadow cut and end of the breeding season

   Hay is cut and raked at Eastfield Meadows and Northgate Common. Reed cutting begins at Meridian Marsh. Aerial permits over the reserves resume.

2. October to February

   Scrub clearance, thinning and hedge laying

   Scrub is cleared on Highfold Ridge and Kestrel Heath, woodland is thinned in Ashcombe Forest and Westbrook Woods, and hedges are laid at Eastfield Meadows. Most volunteer task days fall in this period.

3. November to March

   Tree planting

   New trees are planted at Northgate Common and Westbrook Woods, beginning with the tree planting day on 31 October 2026.

4. March to July

   Ground-nesting season

   Kestrel Heath is closed except for the perimeter path. Dogs must be on short leads in every reserve. No work is carried out in reedbeds, and no aerial permits are granted over the reserves.

5. April to September

   Surveys

   Butterfly transects are walked weekly, breeding bird surveys are carried out at dawn and bat surveys at dusk. Beach-nesting areas at Saltings Shore are roped off from April to August.

6. Forthcoming

   Management plans

   A management plan for each of the six reserves, setting objectives for the next five years and the work needed to meet them, will be published and announced in the Newsroom.

Much of the work is carried out on the volunteer task days listed on the Volunteering page. Research or survey work by outside organisations requires a research licence, applied for as described on the Events and Permits page. Records of species seen at any site, and enquiries about the programmes, may be sent to contact@parks.gov.vin.