Scrub is a habitat which has been under valued, being seen as an indicator of neglect and reminding people of the agricultural depression. It is in fact a very valuable habitat. It provides a wide variety of different habitats within a small area. It has a tendency to offer lots of edge between rough grass and shrubby areas, big variations in height and micro climates. The combination of these allow a great variety of wildlife.

The scrub at Labour in Vain offers more variety even than is usual in scrub. This is because in that it has a varied age structure, aspect, slope, geology, soil water levels and in some places also has planted species. There is high scrub which one could almost call woodland .The deep gully below the buildings has mature field maple, sallow and hawthorn, as does much of scrub on the slope in Tulk‘s Hill. These areas have an established woodland ground flora. There is an area of hazel coppice in Tulk’s Hill and some of the broad "hedges" include substantial ash trees. These areas and others like them are the nearest equivalent to woodland to be found on this slope towards the sea and might reasonably be regarded as the climax community in this area. Some of the lower areas of scrub are dominated by blackthorn and some by gorse. These tend to be denser and less grazed by either farm stock or other animals.Some have bramble at the edges, some honeysuckle, ivy or old man’s beard rambling in or under them. Each of these offer advantages to different populations of invertebrates and smaller plants as well as together supporting a wide range of larger animals. In very similar scrub on Tamarisk Farm immediately adjacent to this we know that we have Dormice. Our coast is the first landfall for many migrant birds and scrub on the seaward slopes provides valuable winter feeding for them.

The gullies and broad scrubby bands seem to be stable and good. It is proposed that they are protected from heavy grazing and monitored.

The proposals for the scrub in Tulk’s Hill aim to maximise the variety without reducing the coherence of this large area.

In addition to working on the existing woodland and scrub, we would like to establish new areas of a comparable habitat. At present we are only proposing two small ares.( listed in Part 3: Capital items), but we hope in the future to be able to suggest larger areas. It is likely that these would be too large to be supported by Countryside Stewardship so I have been in touch with the Forestry Commission about the possibility of Farm Woodland Grants.

Clearings of varied sizes (from about half an acre to a few square metres) would be created, giving lots of edge, areas with shelter from the wind and providing warm pockets and areas of rarely disturbed grassland (bearing in mind that Tulk’s Hill is open access land and other areas of scrub on the farm are alongside footpaths so there is a lot of disturbance). These clearings will generally be made on the more level land within the scrub.

Rides would be created allowing access for both grazing animals and people. These would be rising up the slope diagonally except at the ends of the field.

"Scallops" in the edges both of the rides and of the main body of the scrub increasing the edge effect and providing sheltered microhabitats. It is proposed that about 15% of the total area of mature scrub in Tulk’s Hill be cleared in the first two years of the agreement and kept clear.

It will be necessary to use a combination of mechanical work and grazing animals to maintain the new open grassland.

Precise mapping of the planned clearing is not realistic, but a map is enclosed which shows what type of pattern is envisaged.It is hoped that it will be possible to work from aerial photographs. One small scale photo is already available (copy enclosed) and we hope to have ones on a larger scale available before the work starts.

Clearing in one year and allowing regrowth of scrub gives a varied age structure

A comparable effect can be gained by laying the scrub as one would a hedge. This gives the chance of new growth with old wood, both live and dead, on the ground. It offers different height and climatic effects as the coppicing does but without the threat of disturbance from people and grazing animals found in actual clearings. It is proposed that a small area equating about 2.5% of the total mature scrub in Tulk’s Hill be layed or coppiced every year.

About a hectare of the species rich grassland on the flatter land at the top of the hill has recently been very significantly invaded by gorse bushes. These are still standing as individual bushes but some are now six foot high.Landscape consideration suggests that more level areas should remain open grassland. It is proposed that these be removed. Having done so, to maintain this it will be necessary to copse the cleared areas annually. It would be appropriate to leave a very few small gorse bushes in the open to provide nesting sites for stonechats. This would be done on a rotational basis. Depending on the effectiveness of the grazing and the rate of re-growth it may be beneficial to leave some areas for two years to encourage a tussocky structure to the sward with some low growing gorse and bramble providing cover.Both in the same part of the field and in other areas, there has been some development of bramble and it is proposed that this be copsed regularly.

It is proposed that small areas of woody species seen less frequently seen here should be planted within some of the cleared areas in Tulk’s Hill. Suggestions for this include crab apple, oak, holly, elder and hazel with possibly sallow included because though it is already frequent it is very valuable as early season feed for insects. Detailed plans for this are not practical until the initial clearing has been done so we hope to add to the scheme later.

All grazing in Tulks Hill should be undertaken with habitat development or maintenance in mind. We have available North Devon cattle, which browse, and will probably be used for a light graze in the Spring and a heavier graze in the late Summer. Our Dorset Down cross sheep might be useful for Winter grazing.

The orchard is adjacent to the public footpath and will make a very attractive and interesting feature when renovated, as well as becoming a focus for wildlife.

It would be appropriate to leave a broad band of scrub on the Eastern edge of the area and add to the hedge to the West, which is incomplete.These would serve to shelter the fruit trees as well as maintain the continuity of the wildlife corridor from the gully running from the beach to the large area of scrub and rough grassland in Tulk’s Hill.

The small pond is in good repair. The proposed larger pond is beside an area with good wet land flora which is valuable in its own right. Leaving scrub and boggy land at the East side of the pond will leave a substantial reservoir of organisms to colonise the new pond quickly and in the longer term give a varied depth structure for it. It would be sensible to improve the water supply into the pond by culverts for the ditches from Back Meadow and renovating the ditch from The Brow. The level of access to the ponds by stock still needs to be decided.

Amongst the old trees are a mixture of pears and apples (culinary, dessert and cider). There has been some fresh planting in the last ten years. Much of it needs clearing, trees need pruning and more need to be planted. (There are old gardens in the village from which it might be possible to identify appropriate varieties.)

All new trees and some of the old ones would need fence type guards to allow grazing.

We would like to discuss access possibilities for the orchard,with one option being to find a way to offer some access to disabled people. This has implications for the use of the farm track which cannot be resolved in time for the application and problems with respect to slope for wheelchair users.

These ponds were probably dug as part of a drainage and stock watering system perhaps 200 years ago. They support a variety of birds, plants and invertebrates. Some of the ponds have areas of trees planted by the NT about 12 years ago. These are fenced and doing well, others have naturally developed scrub on one bank.

The main principles of management are to maintain water for as long in the year as possible, to allow boggy areas around the ponds and to control the edge damage from stock (although this need not be eliminated).

Proposals:

Most of these measures have been incorporated into the application. Others need more planning and possibly more expert advice. There are, for example, redundant concrete structures by some of the ponds which might be of historical interest