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Case Example 6 - Rammamere Heath and Sandy Heath
Home > Case Examples > Rammamere Heath and Sandy Heath


(C) KWT
Site name: Rammamere Heath and Sandy Heath
Location: Leighton Buzzard and Sandy, Bedfordshire
Operator/owner: Redland Aggregates Ltd
Local BAP: Bedfordshire Biodiversity Action Plan
BAP habitat: Heathland
Natural area: Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge


Background and site description

Rammamere Heath comprises an area of remnant heathland and ancient woodland, and is identified as an SSSI. The woodland Kings Wood, part of which is owned by Redland, is also an NNR.

Initiative

Conservation work at Rammamere on the heathland areas includes an on-going programme of bracken and scrub clearance as well as measures to prevent birch encroachment. Heather regeneration is promoted through surface scarification and other methods. Redland holds planning permission to extract reserves below the heath but has never worked the heath nor has any plans to do so. Site management is carried out under a Site Management Plan and is overseen by a Management Group which includes representatives from English Nature and Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Wildlife Trust.

At Sandy Heath the restoration proposals were revised in the 1980s. An originally flat plateau area has been re-formed into a deep valley with interlocking spurs creating a new and radical landform. Heathland regeneration on the slopes has involved a number of large trial plots using transplants grown from Calluna vulgaris seed from the Rammamere site, as well as heather litter and direct seeding. The heathland restoration has already doubled the area of heathland in Bedfordshire. The two sites are also linked through the interchange of experience in restoration techniques. Future initiatives include investigating the soil pH associated with establishing successful heathland at Rammamere in order to help with that at Sandy. Work at Sandy has involved close liaison with English Nature, the RSPR (whose headquarters adjoin the site), Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Wildlife Trust, and Bedfordshire County Council.

The Greensland Project has prepared BAPs for habitats within the Greensand Ridge Natural Area including Heathland, Acid Grassland and Sandy Heath. The work at Rammamere is an important component of this, and site-specific targets have been set within the Plan. In addition, material from Rammamere is being used in restoration work at the nearby Sandy Heath Quarry, where proposals have doubled the Heathland habitat within the Greensand Ridge.

Costs

    Redland spends £6,000-£10,000pa in Rammamere site management.

Benefits

  • Both sites provide valuable PR for Redland locally and nationally, and are used by student groups.
  • As with other Redland sites, the initiatives here demonstrate the company’s commitment to nature conservation and its contribution to the progression of heathland restoration techniques. Rammamere is a non-active site that has never been worked by the company and is particularly valuable in this regard.

Contribution to biodiversity

  • Heathland is a priority habitat identified in the UK BAP.
  • In addition to the specific habitat and species, this site provides a particularly strong example of good working partnership between a mineral company and local conservation groups. Heathland restoration work on the site is led by the manpower and financial commitment provided by Redland.
  • Large areas of birch clearance have resulted in the re-appearance of woodlark and nightjar, both UK BAP Middle List species, and the close links with the nearby Sandy Heath Quarry enhance the site’s contribution towards biodiversity.

Contact

Wildlife Trust

Michelle Edwards
Biodiversity Manager
Wildlife Trust
Visitors Centre
Priory Country Park
Barkers Lane
Bedford
Bedfordshire MK41 9SH

medwards@bedswt.cix.co.uk

01234 364213


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