News: October 2009
Hello from Ellie
Hello! My name is Ellie Phillips and I am delighted to be able to introduce myself as the new Conservation Officer for Cleeve Common. Fully funded by the Cleeve Common Board of Conservators and hosted by Gloucestershire FWAG, I’m employed for 2.5 days per week and have been in post since the end of June.
The first time I visited Cleeve Common, on a glorious sunny day back in May, I was immediately struck by its sheer size and stunning views. Since taking up the position of Conservation Officer the sun has not been quite so glorious, but I’m happy to report that this has not dampened my enthusiasm. The changeable weather, like the exposed quarry faces, steep valleys, scree slopes and windy hill tops, gives the Common a real feeling of remoteness in spite of its proximity to Cheltenham; part of its appeal.
My first couple of months have been devoted to getting to know the Common; a task which, I’m rapidly discovering, could take a lifetime! I have been very grateful to the numerous Vice County Recorders, groups, enthusiasts and experts who have been so helpful in devoting their time to provide me with records and advice, showing me some of the key areas of the Common for particular species. Everybody has been so friendly and welcoming, and this really does reflect the lovely atmosphere up on the Common. Being a common, Cleeve has much historical and local significance; whilst visitors to the Common seem to have their own personal reasons and stories, all seem to agree that Cleeve is a very special place.
The past couple of months have shown me that there is far more to Cleeve Common than sheer size and stunning views. A pair of lapwings successfully raised a brood this year, and yellowhammers and stonechats benefit from the mosaic of grassland and scrub. The roughs of the golf course are alive all season, from orchids to autumn gentian, and violets and vetches offer food plants for butterflies; the calcareous grassland is a haven for invertebrates. The warble of lesser horseshoe bats can be heard on a heterodyne bat detector, hares lie up in the scrub, and adders and lizards bask near the safe retreats of tussoky patches. The interesting geology of Cleeve manifests itself through the flora: limestone plants such as dropwort and salad burnet grow almost side-by-side with acid-loving plants like heather and tormentil.
There are some very special pockets of grassland on the Common, and I am so pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the fantastic work being carried out by the Cleeve Common Board of Conservators and the Rangers to achieve our goals of the correct balance of grazing and scrub, to make sure that there is room for everyone and to preserve the Common for generations to come. I would love to hear from anybody with ideas, records, comments or memories of the Common, and we’ll be on the look-out for volunteers shortly to assist with vital species monitoring; please do get in touch if you’d be interested, whatever your experience and skills.
ellie.phillips@fwag.org.uk
Tel: 01452 627 487
Mob: 07980 732 860