Stockbridge Down and Marsh
About Stockbridge Down.
Stockbridge Down is one of the most important chalk downland sites in Hampshire and in the summer walkers can enjoy seeing many wild flowers and a great variety of butterflies. It is the Trust's aim to maintain and improve this diversity of wildlife.
This ancient chalk downland at Stockbridge, designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), has a long history of common grazing rights, although until recently it had not been grazed for about fifty years. These historic manorial customs are still maintained by the Trust, Lord of the Manor since 1946, which is now grazing its own flocks of sheep in order to maintain the rich grassland and to control the further invasion of scrub.
However, the Down suffers from rapidly encroaching scrub such as hawthorn and dogwood, which, without control, would take it over, not only causing the loss of many downland habitats but also preventing public access and obscuring viewpoints. The Trust has therefore embarked upon an ongoing programme of clearance.
Distinctive plants of the chalk grassland include cowslip, thyme, harebell, horseshoe vetch, greater knapweed, yarrow, agrimony and violet. There are many downland butterfly species, including chalkhill blue, and some scarce moths. The scrub of hawthorn, blackthorn, dogwood, privet and juniper provides valuable nesting sites for birds such as blackcap, yellowhammer, nightingale, and garden and willow warblers.
Of historical interest are some Bronze Age barrows, and the very important Iron Age camp of Woolbury Ring at the northeast corner of the property.
About Stockbridge Marsh.
Stockbridge Marsh is an area of grassland grazed by commoners' animals and bordered by the River Test. The main problem on the marsh is the spread of the invasive plant, Ragwort, which is poisonous to stock. The laborious task of Ragwort pulling is carried out with the aid of volunteers and as a result it has almost been totally iradicated from the Marsh.
What sort of jobs do we do at Stockbridge?
Stockbridge Down - Over the past few years we have not only been helping with the scrub management of this site (see above), but we have also helped with the pulling of some of the Ragwort growing on the Down, carried out some fence replacement and helped with visitor access and erosion control.
The two photos above show a part of the Down which borders the Iron Age Fort. Although not a scheduled site the Trust needs to maintain the area by removing trees and unwanted scrub. We did not quite finish the task that day but the pictures give a before and after view.
Stockbridge Marsh - We do not visit the marsh very often, however over the past few years, the tasks we have helped with include pulling Ragwort, scrub cutting, gate replacement and river bank repairs.