Staunton Meend

Planning application.

The planning application for fencing, gates and cattle grids expired in September 2021 and has been renewed for a further 10 year period. 

Working Group – Get Involved

A Working Group has been formed (December 2022) to oversee the management of the area.  It is proposed to engage an expert to produce a 10 year management plan and to monitor it over that period of time – details yet to be agreed.  Members of the public with an interest are invited to join the Working Group – please contact Cllr Paul Mobbs-Morgan (see ‘Council member’s page.


Amazing wildlife!

HeatherStaunton Meend is rich in wildlife. It is home to rare and declining habitats including lowland acid grassland and marsh. It is estimated that less than 30,000 hectares of lowland acid grassland now remain in UK.

The most characteristic herb and grass species are heath bedstraw, wavy hair-grass, sheep’s fescue, common bent, pill sedge and tormentil. Dwarf shrubs, such as heather and bilberry, are also present.

The tussocky vegetation and bare ground that characterises lowland acid grassland allow a wide range of invertebrates to thrive including solitary wasps, butterflies and grasshoppers.

Bird species of conservation concern use acid grassland for breeding or wintering and include woodlark, stone-curlew, lapwing, chough, hen harrier and merlin. Adders and other reptiles bask on the bare ground, and small heath butterflies dance between flowers.

Like many of our other lowland habitats, lowland acid grassland is under threat from intensive agriculture including the use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, liming, reseeding or ploughing for arable crops. Poor management including overgrazing and neglect can lead to rank vegetation and scrub encroachment, while activities like afforestation, mineral extraction, landfill and development cause massive losses. Recreation also has effects on this habitat, disturbing wildlife and causing compaction and erosion of the soil.

Staunton Meend has been designated a Key Wildlife Site by Gloucestershire Nature Trust.

Why manage?

Grazing ponies
Exmoor ponies grazing Staunton Meend

 

As is the case elsewhere, commoner’s grazing rights are on the decline. A lack of grazing on the Meend means that the rare acid grassland and marsh habitat that the common supports is slowly being lost to bracken and scrub encroachment.

The Parish Council has a 10 year agreement with Natural England to reverse this trend. 

 

Visiting

Staunton Meend is owned and managed by the Parish Council. It covers approximately 26 hectares of gently sloping land to the south of the village of Staunton and can be reached easily via a short walk from Staunton Village. The ‘right to roam’ on common land means you can use it for activities like: walking, sightseeing, bird watching, picnicking and running. Please note that car parking on the common is severely restricted. You are advised to leave your vehicle in village and access the common on foot by one of the many public rights of way.

Staunton Meend Map

Do’s and Dont’s

Please do: Keep dogs on a lead at all times, shut gates behind you. take your litter home.

Please don’t: Feed the ponies, light campfires, camp or park on the common.