Ragwort and thistle control on East Hill, Milborne Port

East Hill, Milborne Port

There is a lot of ragwort growth on the hill which we would like to prevent from spreading seed (and we have a legal obligation to as well) .

BUT! It is a very valuable nectar source for at least 40 species of insects, so we have left it to flower and now will be snipping off the seed heads to prevent them from maturing. Anything we cut must be removed otherwise there is a danger the ponies will eat it once it has dried up. Please bring a pair of secateurs of you have one, and a garden trug to pick into.

East Hill is a fabulously biodiverse stretch of land above Milborne Port with some rare butterfly species, but it is being rapidly encroached by bramble, gorse and thorn. We now have our 4 ponies grazing the slopes (the first grazing animals there since 2009 apparently!). They are doing very well and their grazing has exposed a lot of small isolated scrub, hawthorn, field maple, rose and bramble, which it is now easy to get at. Some of this we will do by hand, some of it with brushcutters,

Meet at 9am in the top laybys to walk down to the footpath onto the hill or park at the bottom and walk.

See the map for directions (click on link at the top of this notice) and park in one of the areas marked with a purple peg or park in Wheathill Lane opposite the school wildflower meadow and walk up.
Wear stout footwear, tough gloves and tickproof clothes. Bring lunch and drinks.There may be brushcutter work too so if you are a trained operator, please bring your PPE.