Regular visitors to Ranscombe will have no doubt noticed new fencing appearing in the area in the south of the reserve known as the Valley. The purpose of this is to eventually enable management by grazing livestock, in the area north of the footpath, as part of the creation of 9 hectares (22 acres) of new wildflower grassland.
Since the 1930s the UK has lost over 97% of its wildflower meadows, and this work is all part of wider national efforts to reverse this trend. The aim is to create further grassland habitat similar to the 60-acre Brockles Field in the south-west corner of Ranscombe. We have been particularly pleased with Brockles the last couple of years; plants such as Yellow wort, Pyramidal orchid, and Wild marjoram are abundant, whilst more rare or specialist plants such as Clustered bellflower, Rock-rose, Horseshoe vetch, and the endangered Man orchid are gradually increasing their numbers and range.
The line of the public footpath through the Valley will need to move slightly, due to the position of an underground gas main in relation to the fence. This will be by only a few metres. The result though will be that the area immediately to the north of the footpath will be fenced, whilst the area immediately to the south will remain unfenced.
If you have any questions regarding the above, or anything else regarding the management of Ranscombe Farm Reserve, please contact ranscombe@plantlife.org.uk
Ben Sweeney, Plantlife
