National Trust Admits Unapproved Heather Harvesting at Long Mynd

The BBC has discovered that the National Trust violated conservation regulations concerning a novel heather harvesting technique employed at a scenic location in Shropshire. The charity, owner of Long Mynd, situated close to Church Stretton, confirmed it conducted trials of seed brush-harvesting during the previous year. However, it had erroneously assumed that this procedure was encompassed by current authorizations granted by Natural England. Farmers possessing commoner grazing rights expressed to the BBC their dismay regarding alleged damage inflicted upon the heathland. Long Mynd holds the status of a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), subject to stringent conservation regulations. Tom Lloyd, secretary of the Longmynd Commoners’ Association, stated: “It’s clear the damage here is severe and has been caused by harvesting heather seed. It’s going to take some years to recover.” Mr. Lloyd acts on behalf of a collective of sheep and beef farmers who utilize their entitlement to graze livestock on the gradients of the seven-mile long plateau. Seed brush harvesting entails collecting seeds from a donor site rich in various species and dispersing them onto locations requiring the restoration of their wild flowers. Generally, a harvester is pulled across the area, brushing seeds into a hopper, after which the seeds are dried. The purpose of this method is to extract only the heather seed heads, thereby safeguarding the primary portion of the plant. A location close to the Shooting Box public car park, which the BBC inspected, exhibits considerable heather damage attributed to heavy machinery, evidenced by indications of tractor wheels becoming mired in mud alongside mounds of dislodged heather. Mr. Lloyd, a fourth-generation hill farmer, stated: “We’re really disappointed that National Trust – Europe’s largest conservation body – has felt able to severely damage one area in pursuit of regeneration of another.” He added: “We need them to hold true to the collaborative management that Long Mynd has seen for over 25 years.” A National Trust spokesperson issued a statement, saying: “We take our responsibility in caring for the Long Mynd seriously and understood we had permission to brush-harvest the heather seed as part of our existing heather management consent.“Subsequently we were informed by Natural England this was not the case and have sought and secured additional consent.” The charity additionally refuted assertions from the LMCA (Longmynd Commoners’ Association) that recent seed brush harvesting had harmed sections of heather. The spokesperson further stated: “No localised damage was caused to the heathland during the seed brush-harvesting trials. However, during cutting and baling works, with prior consent from Natural England, the severe wet weather meant the machinery used regrettably caused some localised damage to the heathland.“We are working closely with Natural England to secure additional SSSI consent to repair and restore the damaged heathland.” As part of its conservation initiatives, the National Trust has been relocating heather seed to its Dudmaston estate, situated near Bridgnorth. There, approximately 240 acres of arable land on Mose Farm are undergoing restoration to heathland over a decade. The practice of brush-harvesting heather seeds is gaining popularity, primarily due to its cost-effectiveness and its intended lack of harm to the terrain. This process is typically performed using lightweight machinery, given that the seeds are minute and abundant, rendering manual harvesting challenging. Subsequently, they can be cleaned and subjected to heat or smoke treatment to enhance germination. The optimal period for ripening is nearing, and Calluna Vulgaris (heather) is generally gathered in November or early December. Heather brash, as it is termed, is exclusively obtained from donor sites exceeding 200 meters in altitude. Given Long Mynd’s designation as an official Site of Special Scientific Interest, regulations mandate that landowners must seek approval from Natural England prior to undertaking any “planned activity on it or allow someone else to carry out a planned activity on it”. A Natural England spokesperson indicated that the organization communicated with the National Trust in October of the current year, notifying it that it “had conducted heather seed harvesting without the correct SSSI consent in place”. The spokesperson added: “We are working with the National Trust to ensure that in future all necessary permissions are in place.” According to the National Trust, Long Mynd has experienced a loss of up to 75% of its heather over time, attributed to a combination of summer drought and harm from the heather beetle. The charity has conducted vegetation management for numerous years with complete authorization, encompassing efforts against bracken and gorse. However, farmers are now scrutinizing heather management more intently and anticipate improved consultation. For further updates, BBC Shropshire can be followed on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.