Coarse invaders attack common (From Stroud News and Journal)

Coarse invaders attack common

SELSLEY Common is under threat of invasion - from unwelcome plants.

Like Rodborough and Minchinhampton across the valley, Selsley is disputed territory with coarse grass and spiky scrub always waiting in the wings to colonise the commons, destroying the wildlife-rich grasslands.

This year the common has been short of its key defender, the humble cow. Now, unless more cattle are turned out to graze, the wildlife-rich hillside could be overrun.

The hilltop grassland has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by English Nature because of its rare habitat and outstanding wildlife but due to the lack of cows on the common this year the plateau is rapidly becoming overgrown and there is a risk that this valuable natural resource could be lost.

"Up until this year the graziers have always put out plenty of animals and it hasn't been an issue," said English Nature's Paul Hackman.

"We've been really pleased with the way it's been grazed over the last couple of years. But this year there have been problems.

"I believe one of the farmers has died and a herd that would usually have been out on the common has problems with TB.

"Hopefully the lack of animals is a short term problem because grazing is the only effective way to manage these Cotswold grasslands.

"If it's not grazed it's going to get covered in coarse grasses and scrub and the wildlife value will deteriorate."

He said the scrub could be held in check for a year or two but in the long term cows were the only answer.

"It's not an immediate concern because the most important areas are the slopes which are not too bad at the moment, but if the situation stays as it was this year for the next few summers it will begin to become a real problem," he said.

Stroud District Council is responsible for the management of the common and is in discussions with the graziers to try to come up with a plan to keep the coarse grass and scrubby bushes at bay.

A hay cut is planned for the top of the common as an emergency measure while a long-term strategy is drawn up.