SZ275920 Recognised by Natural England the Pleasure Grounds (donated to the parish in 1890), The Common and Meadow at Studland form 14 acres of woodlands, water, and meadow with meandering paths along the Danes stream
SZ275920
Recognised by Natural England the Pleasure Grounds (donated to the parish in 1890), The Common and Meadow at Studland form 14 acres of woodlands, water, and meadow with meandering paths along the Danes stream and including the Shavells Copse to the north. All owned by the parish council and managed with the help and expertise of the Conservation Volunteers, whose mission is Conserving our Village Wildlife and Environment.
To get involved look at their website www.milfordconservation.org.
This area can be accessed from near the village centre, entrances from Westminster Road and from Shorefield Park.
A scrub management plan from 2012 – 2022 greatly improved access and the habitat with a combination of scrub clearance, grazing and grassland restoration. This return to 50% meadow grassland and 50% woodland has enabled to return of species-rich environments and improved access via pathways and information boards. Land management includes grazing by Dexter cattle in four-month stints in different areas – check the gates for their whereabouts and keep dogs on leads when passing these areas. Flailing and some mowing also help maintain the meadow.
Recent years have also seen the development of a Community Orchard – near the second gate by Westminster Road entrance and named after Tony Locke, a passionate local environmentalist. Trees include apple, crab-apple, damson, pear, plum, cherry and blackberries.
The woodland areas are managed with coppicing, thinning and path/ bridge upkeep. Sunny glades have been cleared to encourage butterflies such as the white-letter hairstreak, meadow brown and speckled wood. Some holm oak trees are retained, but the removal of invasive rhododendron continues.
Overall, these beautiful and precious conservation and pleasure areas support bats, birds, butterflies, dormice, moths, and other wildlife. Birds spotted in recent years include mallards, stock doves, tawny owls, woodpeckers, pipits, many warblers, crossbills, finches, sparrows, and chiffchaff. – plus, many more!
We had visited Milford-on-Sea many times and walked around the other nature reserves, but it is easy to miss the Studland Common area – it is well worth a visit and a great credit to all the hard work and passion of the parish council and the conservation volunteers.