One of Wiltshire’s most important wild landscapes has been delisted as a nature reserve. Fyfield Down, just east of the famous stone circle at Avebury, was leased to the Nature Conservancy (a predecessor of Natural England) in 1955 and declared an NNR in 1956. It has been described as the “best assemblage of sarsen stones in England”. The site lies within the Avebury World Heritage Site and the North Wessex Downs AONB.
location_on
photo
ondemand_video
forum
description
link
Public rights of way still there. (As long as you don't mind the fact that shooting will happen)
Thanks for this Moss, it is a wonderful landscape. Not entirely clear what ramifications (if any) will arise from delisting it as a nature reserve. It does sound alarming though this bit not necessarily so ...
Quote: Although Natural England would not speculate on what actions the new landowners might take, it said “a new Countryside Stewardship agreement is now in place to support ongoing management. This includes new interpretation boards designed in conjunction with the World Heritage Site and Historic England.” end quote.
I don't imagine shooting would take place near any rights of way. Will be keeping my ear to the ground as they say.
That's good to hear ;)
I also came across this link - which set off certain alarm bells.
marlborough.news/news/fyfield-down-de-declared-as-a-national-nature-reserve-i-e-it-isnt-any-more/?fbclid=IwAR222g2OxjhtG9EIZYY1EP0TVqRL8GLAmfQZPYOa8C6PlvM1WNh8u_TxjZk
However, I am reliably informed it retains it SSSI status so the new owners would be unlikely to obtain permission for any developments.
There does seem to have been an element of secrecy about the whole 'de-declaration' process which is an awareness alert.
I didn't even know National Nature Reserves could be de-declared. In what world would that need to be a thing?? Even if you're some public-hating landlord, it's not like all NNRs have unrestrained public access. Seriously, how many people roam across Fyfield Down? You actually have to use your legs to get there so it's not exactly packed with people damaging the place. And how can something be of national importance one minute, then just merit being 'ceased to be managed as a nature reserve' the next?
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1020737/fyfield-down-nnr-declaration-maps.pdf
the suspicious bit of my brain wonders who owns it and who they're chummy with.
Hi Rhiannon, from what I can see the owners are arable farmers but have a land management company, seems fairly harmless.