Our first complete year at Holtspur Bottom has been a great success. Its management committee have met regularly to steer the project forward. A butterfly transect route has been established and the first year’s results entered into the Branch database. Our own members’ work parties have attended to the gradual reversion of the site on 7 occasions (48 persons/visits). Other labourers have attended on 6 occasions and by coincidence there were also 6 visits from educational groups keen to study the transformation of our ley into downland. Additionally, there was the Open Day when just less than 100 people visited on a glorious summer day.
That the conversion of the relatively sterile rye grass ley to downland, is proceeding well is evident in the approval of the Countryside Commission. They are scrutinising our project closely with the hope that we will be an example to others following our lead in years to come.
Most evident to visitors is the removal of scrub from the flowery remnant parallel to the Riding Lane access and the removal of ragwort from the opposite edge of the site. This scrub removal should vastly increase the display of downland flowers as they were being badly affected by overshadowing. The removal of some smaller amounts of scrub in 1998 had a dramatic effect on the flora and now that a larger area is involved there should be even more spectacular results. The rye and rough grasses have been mown and removed (which even during the relatively quiet time of autumn, is already allowing more successful competition by delicate downland plants). They are quite evidently re-entering the turf across the ‘grassy’ part of the site.