Our Coast, Our Sea - Conserving Whin Sill grasslands

19 January 2010

Northumberland Wildlife Trust has been awarded a staggering £111,550 grant from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ASLF).

The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund aims to reduce the environmental impacts of the extraction of aggregates and to deliver benefits to areas subject to these impacts. The extraction of aggregates from the environment (sand, gravel and crushed rock) represents 82 per cent by tonnage of all non-fossil fuel minerals extracted from the land and sea in the UK.

The funding is awarded on behalf of DEFRA by Natural England and offers the Trust a unique opportunity to manage and restore a number of very rare whin grassland sites around Northumberland. Natural England’s ALSF Grant Scheme aims to support projects that reduce the effects of aggregate extraction on local communities and the natural environment.

A team of conservation staff and volunteers from Northumberland Wildlife Trust will clear scrub from a number of important whin grassland sites in North Northumberland including Kippy Heugh, West Kyloe and Harpers Heugh to assist with the establishment of conservation grazing by sheep or goats.

A programme of scrub control activity will also be incorporated into the management of a number whin grassland sites including Dunstanburgh and smaller coastal outcrops of whin sill.

Currently bracken on the sites is shading out whin grassland vegetation but expert vegetation monitoring will study the effectiveness of the programme.

The funding will also be spent on the production of maps for the key sites highlighting the geographical assets of the whin grasslands. The maps
will be mainlined by the wildlife charity and copies will be given to landowners in the area who have whin grass on their sites.

Rob Aubrook, Natural England’s Regional Director commented: “We are delighted to be able to support Northumberland Wildlife Trust in this important work on one of our region’s unique habitats. The Great Whin Sill helps to support some of the UK’s rarest plant species which can only survive at this exceptional geological location and this project will help safeguard them for future generations to enjoy.”

John Thompson, Conservation Officer with Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “Over the past 60 years, a staggering 97% of Britain’s wildflower grasslands and meadows have been destroyed and species-rich grasslands are becoming increasingly rare.”

He continued: “This wonderful cash boost from the Aggregates Levy will enable us to protect a number of exceptional habitat features for current
and future generations. New information on the lower plants found in
these habitats, the lichens and mosses will add to our knowledge about
this unique Northumberland habitat and also how it responds to the Trust’s urgent management work.