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Chilworth
Conservation Area (CCA) is a slice of nature at its best. It was
designated in 1989 when the University of Southampton decided to promote
27-acres of the Chilworth estate as a conservation resource.
The area contains a wide range of habitats,
a result of the variety of historical uses and the underlying geological
diversity. And by looking at today's flora, we can tell what used to
happen in each part in bygone days:
- The western section of Buxey Wood is the
only remaining area of ancient coppiced woodland and its associated
flora (Wood Sorrel, Solomon's Seal) reflect this history.
- The rest of Buxey Wood and the Clump
form a plantation from the 1800s containing ash, beech, sycamore,
sweet chestnut, birch, oak and pine.
- A small area of grass and heathland
remains, which has a characteristic and very valuable flora, including
spotted and green winged orchids, pignut and other species found on
acid grassland.
- In the centre of the site is an expanse
of unimproved grassland, with a characteristic and diverse flora,
previously used for grazing cattle.
Without doubt, the CCA is a valuable resource,
which deserves to be maintained and improved. With this in mind, Southampton Science Park
Ltd has now taken on the role of estate management for the
whole area. This gives the company a major opportunity to show its
commitment by bringing in additional resources, including local experts,
conservation volunteers and funding.
A Chilworth Conservation Committee has been
created, chaired by Don Fox, Science Park Chief Executive. Local experts and
volunteers have been recruited, including Mike Fenner (grassland ecology),
Marcus Grace and David Billings (woodland ecology and maintenance) and Val
Welsh, a Chilworth resident and consultant biologist. A development plan is
now being constructed, including the all-important sourcing of financial
support.
The company intends to preserve the CCA for
the benefit of tenants, local residents and the University. Updates on
progress will be presented in this newsletter, including opportunities for
volunteers to become involved in projects and thus enjoy at first hand the
benefits of this unique resource.
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