Scrub and young trees are coming out at Pipehill, Ironstone Heath and Muckley Corner to bring back 6.2 hectares of rare heathland. Where, when and how to help.
If you walk at Pipehill, Ironstone Heath or Muckley Corner, expect to see trees coming down this winter. Lichfield District Council says the clearing is deliberate. It is restoring around 6.2 hectares of heathland across the three sites, one of the UK’s rarest habitats.
The council announced the work on 6 October. Part of it is already done. Around 0.6 hectares has been recovered at Pipehill Crossroads, and the council says clearing the scrub there has uncovered surviving heathland plants across the area.
Where the work is happening
All three are council-managed nature sites, listed on its heathlands and nature reserves page.
| Site | Where it is | Planned work |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe Hill Common | Pipehill, about two miles south-west of the city centre, between Wall and Hammerwich | 0.6ha already recovered; a further 0.6ha “over the next few years” |
| Ironstone Heath | Burntwood, near the Burntwood Alpaca and Animal Experience | Around 1ha “over the coming months” |
| Muckley Corner open space | On the A5 at Hammerwich, about three miles south-west of the city centre | Around 4ha, the largest project; work on part of the site expected to start within six months |
The locations of Pipehill and Muckley Corner come from their Wikipedia entries; the council lists Ironstone Heath among its Burntwood sites. Neither Pipe Hill Common nor Ironstone Heath has parking on site, the council’s pages say.
Why cut down trees to help nature
Left alone, heathland slowly turns into scrub and then woodland. The heather, insects, birds and reptiles that need open, sunny ground lose out as it does.
The council’s management plans for the sites include:
- removing young trees and scrub
- controlling bracken and invasive species
- creating patches of bare ground
- spreading heather and other heathland seed
Councillor Janice Silvester-Hall, the cabinet member for ecology and climate change, said some of the work “can look quite dramatic at first, particularly when trees and scrub are being cleared, but there is an important reason behind it.”
“It’s fantastic that we are already finding surviving heathland plants at Pipehill,” she said, “and over the coming years we should see these areas continue to develop and become richer habitats for wildlife.”
The bigger picture
The council says the work is part of its Lichfield District 2050 Strategy. The aim is to restore heathland and link up habitats in a chain running from Cannock Chase towards Sutton Park. The three sites sit along that line, on the district’s south-western side.
The council also points to the draft Staffordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy. It says that draft includes a target to create or restore 40 hectares of lowland heathland across the whole county. If that target stands, these three sites alone would cover about 15 per cent of it.
What it means for you
- The paths stay open. Nothing in the council’s announcement says the sites will close. Cleared ground will look bare for a while; that is the point, as heather needs light to come back.
- If something looks wrong, such as dumped waste or damage, the council’s site pages ask you to email ecology@lichfielddc.gov.uk.
- You can help with the work. The council’s Countryside and Parks Conservation Group runs volunteer days with the parks team, and its biodiversity page lists scrub clearance on its heathland sites among the regular tasks. It is open to over-18s, tools and gloves are provided, and you bring your own lunch. Book a free place on 01543 308867 or at parks@lichfielddc.gov.uk.
The council has not published dates for the Ironstone Heath or Muckley Corner work. We will add them when it does.
More from around the district: Burntwood Park’s new facilities and the Elford community park playground.
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