The growth of footpaths on Rodborough Common is pushing out wildlife - but the National Trust is hoping the combination of old RAF photos and brand new drones can help reverse that.
Analysis by the Trust finds that the network of footpaths across the common is about twice what it was almost 70 years ago, with wildlife being forced into increasingly smaller patches of land.
To better understand the threat posed by the paths, the Trust has been mobilising military surveys.
It has compared aerial photographs taken by the RAF in the 1950s with a recent drone survey commissioned specially by the Trust.
With the new insights, the Trust is now trying to find a way for walkers and wildlife to coexist peacefully.
“People love coming to Rodborough to walk for the views, the wonderful displays of wild flowers and the wildlife – not least the sound of Skylarks singing high overhead,” National Trust ranger Richard Evans said.
“But the skylarks love to nest in the long grass and, while we want people to continue to come and enjoy the common, if more footpaths continue to be created, the skylarks will gradually be edged out.”
The Trust is working with the Rodborough Common Conservation Panel to look at ways of preventing the creation of further paths and encouraging people visiting to stay on the main paths so that they don’t accidentally wander into the skylark nesting area and other sensitive nature sites.
“It is important that people do still visit – it is wonderful having the common so close to Stroud as a place for people to escape and be able to get close to so much wonderful nature from the wildflowers in June to some of the country’s rarest butterflies”, Richard added.
“So we are working hard to find ways to prevent people from disturbing the nature and wildlife which makes this place so special.’
As well as Rodborough Common, the National Trust also looks after Minchinhampton Common and Woodchester Park – both also important places for wildlife near to Stroud.
More information is available on nationaltrust.org.uk/minchinhampton-and-rodborough-commons
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