Annington Hill, an area of outstanding natural beauty?

[Denise McCormac]

Taken this month on the South Downs Way  a National trail used by thousands, an area of outstanding natural beauty and until recenly one of the most beautiful places in England. What will be the permanent damage to the land and does this farmer have the right to destroy it in this way?

[Bryony Webb]

Hello - just to clarify - this area has no connection with the Downland Scheme or the Wiston Estate

[John C Greves]

In the spirit of the National Park .... perhaps a quiet chat with the neighbours might be in order Bryony

[Denise McCormac]

It's true, although near Wiston, the Wiston project does not include any of Annington Hill. Feelings are running high both for and against the farm and I think it raises some very important issues for the future of our countryside. Should people be informed when something like this is coming into their area? Should planning laws be more robust for national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty?

[Nigel James]

Denise,

The National Park is a working and changing landscape. This is an example of trying to balance the needs between the people who manage the land, the people who visit it and the people who live here.

Planning permission isn’t normally required to change from one agricultural land use to another and in many situations where this is so, it is ultimately the landowner’s decision on how they manage their land.

We have visited the site and are working closely with the farmer to ameliorate the impacts of this new venture as far as possible. He has already made changes to make the bridleway/South Downs Way safer to use for horse riders, for example by making the route wider and putting up warning notices, and we will continue to work with the landowner and British Horse Society with regard to equestrian concerns.

We work closely with farmers to try and balance food production, landscape protection and public access and, together with Horsham District Council and Bramber Parish Council, will continue to monitor the situation.

 

Nigel James

SDNPA Area Manager

Central Downs

[Denise McCormac]

I have just been reading a leaflet put out by the South Downs joint committee about a walk around Steyning Bowl. Lots of lovely pictures of wildflowers and this about chalk downland:

"We are lucky enough to have one of the richest wildlife habitats of Western Europe on our own doorstep. Chalk grassland has a great diversity of plants and animals, many of which are internationally rare or threatened. It can support over 50 different species of flowering plant per square metre!

Around the nature trail you will see areas of chalk grassland. These areas are carefully managed to retain its existence and quality. Back in the 19th century chalk grassland covered more than 50% of the South Downs, and now it is only 3%.

Chalk grassland occurs where soils are very thin, well drained, nutrient poor and overlay chalk bedrock. It is characterised by a mixture of grasses and wildflowers, in particular herbs, with a few shrubs and trees. This supports many animales including butterflies such as the Adonis blue and silver spotted skipper, and birds such as skylarks and cornbuntings."

If developments such as this recently introduced free range pig production plant are allowed in unsuitable sites, if there are no powers to prevent them, how many more acres will be destroyed? This 100 acres will never be such a source of pride again.

[Eddie Jenkinson]

These were fields grazed by sheep. it was not the wildlife rich chalk grassland being referred to. It is agriculture providing food and jobs. It may not be picture postcard pretty but will not be permanent.

[Mike Croker]

Comment by Eddie Jenkinson 20 hours ago These were fields grazed by sheep.

Just a newcomer to the South Downs (only 30 years in Bramber) but wasn't the chalk grassland maintained by grazing sheep (once the trees had been removed)....?

I'm more concerned about the potential issues with:

1) pig emissions and water run-off (especially into Annington Mere)

2) the damage done by heavy machinery (see Denise' picture above) to the fragile soil leading to extensive erosion (but maybe that's just the farmer's problem provided the South Downs Way is not affected?)

3) the increase in heavy vehicle movements (feed, pig transport) along Maudlin Lane and Annington Road

[John C Greves]

Depends how far back one goes .... "species rich" habitat dates back to the time when un-fenced Downland was effectively strip-grazed by itinerant shepherds using hurdles to control the flock.

Post-war food crisis led to landowners being given £5 an acre to fence and plough it all up, including the remains of ancient village settlements. Many farmers now use Contractors and Gang Masters.

Global food market and Superstore buying power has reduced UK Agricultural Economy to something like 1% GDP with a workforce to match.

South Downs designated a "Nitrate Vulnerable Zone" which seriously restricts the number of animals that can be kept and the amount of fertilizer used.

Most commercial activities these days require an "Environmental Impact Assessment" ... not unreasonable for Landowners and the SDNPA to be included.

Me? .... as a lad reckon to have been within 10 foot of every flint on those 2000 acres over my shoulder .... bale sledging was hard work.

[Denise McCormac]

This is, sadly, not one of the designated protected areas of chalk grassland, but is chalk grassland which grazing by sheep has maintained, preventing wildflowers being choked and overwhelmed. The report (available online) "State of the National Park 2012" has this to say:

"Chalk grassland is one of the priority habitats of the South Downs, covering 5,608ha of the National Park (4%) It is often referred to as the European equivalent of tropical rainforest due to the rich diversity of species it supports. However chalk grassland has suffered badly from loss and fragmentation both nationally and within the National Park."

For sure, the farmer is a hardworking, dedicated man, but by his own admission was desparate to find somewhere to farm and as a result has ended up on an unsuitable site. I too worry about pig emissions and damage to the soil, and people in Annington Lane/Botolphs Road are suffering from the mud and the awful smell which often makes it very unpleasant to have windows open, let alone work in the garden.The thousands of people who walk on the South Downs Way (myself included) have lost a most beautiful place rich in wildlife. This bridle path and national trail is now impassable for horse riders.

Is this kind of intensive (albeit freerange) pig production appropriate for an area of outstanding natural beauty and national park, can this happen again, can it be prevented?

[Eddie Jenkinson]

We followed a group of four horses up there the weekend before last and they seemed fine.