CHOBHAM COMMON NNR - Surrey Wildlife Trust

with an additional June cut on high amenity areas (as identified in the mowing plan)
and where they have become rank. Where possible a forage harvester or flail
collector should be used. The conversion of the improved meadows at Chobham
Place fields to MG5 grassland by using hay cuts to impoverish the soils and the
introduction of seeds (including yellow rattle Rhinanthus angustifolius) from
grasslands on other parts of the site would help to restore a species rich grassland.
Grassland to the east of Burma Road. This grassland is of high conservation
importance. Gaining tenure of this land or a formal management agreement in order
to ensure the ongoing appropriate management of this area is a high priority and a
plan for the management of this area will be appended.
2.2.7. Woodlands
The woodlands on Chobham Common are of less conservation value than the
internationally important heathland and mire habitats, although they do contribute to
the overall biodiversity of the site and have locally important landscape and amenity
value. There is also an important assemblage of invertebrates associated with the
dead wood on site. The first priorities in woodland management should be to ensure
that those areas to be retained, as woodland or as managed scrub habitats are
identified, and managed for long term retention.
The W1 and W5 carr woodlands support a good range of species but they are subclimaxes
and if left unmanaged would be replaced by W4 Betula pendula – Molinia
caerulea woodland then by secondary climax woodland. Those areas identified as
carr woodland should be managed on a coppice cycle that creates a mixture of mire
and carr habitats if W4 woodland is to be prevented from establishing.
W4 Betula pendula – Molinia caerulea woodland also has some limited wildlife value
and is also a sub-climax. Areas of coppiced birch enhance bio-diversity and provide
feeding areas for nightjar. The Plan needs to identify those areas to be retained as
managed scrub blocks maintained by coppicing; and those small areas that will be
allowed to undergo managed succession to W10 Quercus rober – Pteridium
aquilinum – Rubus fruticosus woodland.
W10 Quercus rober – Pteridium aquilinum – Rubus fruticosus woodland occurs on
the margins of the NNR and outside of the NNR at Little Heath, Valley End and Brick
Hill. It is the semi-natural climax in the area and is more bio-diverse than the exotic
dominated climaxes that also occur in the area. Native deciduous woodland is
important for landscape and amenity reasons, is an important feeding habitat for
nightjar and enhances the overall bio-diversity of the site, and is important culturally.
To maintain these interests, management of this habitat should include the retention
of mature and over mature trees and dead wood, the removal of exotic tree and
shrub species, and where necessary the creation of woodland glades and rides to
encourage woodland herbs and invertebrates.
There are a number of self-seeded pine plantations on the site, most notably at
Monks Walk and the Clump. Where they have been unmanaged they form dense
stands with little ecological or amenity value. Where areas of pine woodland are to be
retained they should be thinned in order to allow a heathland ground flora to develop
and to allow well-spaced trees to develop to maturity in order to create a more
naturalistic appearance to these areas and to increase their biodiversity. The
exception is the Clump, which will be managed as a landscape feature.
The Barrow Wood is dominated by sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) with scattered
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