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Project
origins
The Stonehenge historic landscape arable reversion project
aims to restore the great majority of the land around Stonehenge
to chalk downland with low intensity cattle and sheep grazing. The
idea for the project came from a management recommendation of the
National Trust's Land Use Plan for Stonehenge.
The project will restore the dignity of the
landscape setting for the ancient monument. The stone circle will
thus be within its true context of intimate association with the
other monuments in the historic landscape. This will enable the
full story of the site to be properly told and genuinely appreciated.
Action
for biodiversity
The project will increase the species diversity of the Stonehenge
landscape as well as wildlife conservation values in general on
the property. New habitat for rare and threatened downland species,
including many invertebrates, will be created within an otherwise
intensively farmed area.
Relationships
to sustainable development
All of the restored downland will become open access. Visitors will
be free to roam on grasslands many of which have not been accessible
within living memory. This will create opportunities for study,
interpretation and learning.
The project will be managed as part of the National Trust's Centre
of Excellence for Volunteering Infrastructure and the volunteer
resource will be heavily involved in implementing the project. This
will provide them with valuable experience in habitat restoration
and recreation.
As part of the project, the Trust is charged with balancing access
with conserving archaeology. Arable reversion will have the immediate
impact of removing the threat of the plough from existing upstanding
archaeology. Fences within the newly restored fields will be removed.
This will enhance the sense of grandeur and continuity of the vast
open space, as appropriate for what many consider to be a sacred
site with international iconic status. By dispersing the huge number
of visitors that come to this unique site every year, pressures
will be spread more evenly across the historic landscape, thus minimising
damage.
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