Conservation

Blackmoor Estate encompasses a diverse range of habitat types including a large acreage of woodland, much of it ancient, as well as areas of diverse grassland and heathland. The Estate lies within the South Downs National Park on a mix of sand and clay based soils; there is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with another three SSSI’s adjacent to the estate. There are also a number of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) on the estate, including ‘hangars’ and areas of grassland, and two Scheduled Ancient Monuments – both bronze age burial mounds.

Conservation Projects

Extensive botanical and wildlife surveys have been carried out at Blackmoor and a number of conservation projects entered into with partners including the Game and Wildlfe Conservation Trust, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, the South Downs Joint Committee, the British Dragonfly Society, Woolmer Arcaeological Society and the RSPB. Since 2001 Blackmoor Estate has worked closely with Hampshire County Council on the Hampshire Heathland Project to restore a rare example of lowland heathland at and link it with larger MOD owned heathland areas. Dense areas of scrub have since been removed, leading to the return of heathland plants and rare wildlife such as the woodlark. A previously overgrown bog pool was uncovered, and this now supports 5 or 6 species of dragonfly and provides a suitable habitat for natterjack toads and Great Crested Newts (known to be present in close proximity to the estate) as well as other amphibians and reptiles.

In 2008 Blackmoor Estate entered Natural England's Entry and Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Schemes. Under these schemes a number of projects to encourage biodiversity have been continued or initiated. These include:

• The ongoing and extended restoration and creation of heathland and dry acid grassland – an endangered habitat supports a number of rare heathland species including reptiles and amphibians.
• The creation of species-rich chalk grassland to form a corridor between Noar Hill and Selborne Common Nature Reserves.
• The provision of farmland bird habitats through field buffer strips, uncultivated field corners and specifically seeded areas.
• The sowing of pollen and nectar mixes to encourage bees and butterflies.
• The management of species rich grassland which receive no fertiliser or pesticides.
• The management of small woodlands, mainly steeply sloping 'hangars' to let in light to encourage flowers such as bluebells, yellow archangel and dogs mercury. These plants will attract butterfiles.
• The management of hedgerows to provide food and nesting habitat for birds and cover for bats.
• The provision of nesting boxes for barn owls.

In 2010, with the support of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, five new wildlife ponds were dug on Blackmoor Estate as part of the Million Ponds Project.

And in 2011 a South Downs Joint Committe led project (jointly funded by the Butterfly Conservation Trust) has seen new hedges planted for the conservation of the nationally rare Brown Hairstreak Butterly. It is hoped that the hedges will act as a valuable wildlife corridor between Noar Hill and Selborne Common which both have populations of this declining species.