Aims of RCC - Long term Management Plan

Rushmere Commoners Committee - Long term Management Plan

Vision	To manage the common for the enjoyment of the commoners and it's users, whilst conserving and promoting the natural heathland habitat
1	To conserve and enhance the heathland, flora, fauna and reduce non native species on Rushmere Common.
2	To maintain a diverse age structure of the gorse thickets by rotational coppicing reducing fire risk whilst maintaining diversity.
3	To maintain a diverse age structure of the heather areas.
4	Manage woodland to reduce encroachment and improve health of trees, through thinning.
5	Maintain firebreaks across the common.
6	To retain the common as an amenity for commoners, golfers and the general public.
7	All management actions and proposals must consider the requirements of wildlife and safety of users.
8	Encourage diversity of wildlife native to heathland areas.
9	Manage the pond area to encourage to maintain it's natural inhabitants e.g. frogs, toads etc.
10	No gorse to be over 7 years - rolling programme to get to this state.
11	Encourage diversity of birds e.g. woodpeckers, sky larks, kestrals, jays, etc.

mZone	Description	Main Habitat	Secondary	Fire Risk	Initial Objective
1	Little Common lower- Access to utility areas and footpath, fido bin and bag dispenser.	scrub and grass land	trees	medium	Keep path clear for vehicle (utilities) and foot access across the little common. Stop overgrowth on public footway.
2	Little Common middle - old sand pits with mix of open space, gorse, trees, heather etc. This is a microcosm of the main common. There are informal footpaths through here.	scrub and grass land	trees - surrounding with some wooded areas	medium	Keep paths clear for pedestrian access. Maintain access from Playford Road to Woodbridge Road at 1m. Stop overgrowth on public footway.
3	Little Common upper - grass firebreak at top of hill	grass	trees	low	Cut grass. Stop overgrowth on public footway.
4	Woodbridge Road (A1214) access strip to houses. This is a mixture of grass and hard core and provides primarily access to the houses here.	grass		low	Improve the general look of this area.
5	Ipswich Borough entrance adjacent to A1214 leading to area 6. Start of perimeter path that runs parallel with A1214 to Linksfield. Fido bin and bag dispenser at entrance.	scrub, gorse	trees	medium	Maintain 1.5m footpath.
6	Low sandy pit area with large concrete plinth.	heather	trees on slope near road	low	Stop encroachment of gorse/trees. Maintain thistle growth near 18th tee due to importance for butterfly species. Maintain path through.
7	Wooded area beside the 18th tee with steps due to slope from A1214 and down to Area 6.	oak trees	bramble	low	Maintain steps. Keep path clear.
8	Top path between 17th fairway and A1214, perimeter path with many access points from A1214 for pedestrians.	scrub, gorse,	bracken	medium	Maintain firebreak width of 2.5m minimum.
9	Top path by A1214, perimeter path with many access points from A1214 for pedestrians.	trees	gorse	medium	Maintain firebreak width of 2.5m minimum
10	Area beside 17th tee/fairway and perimeter path. One of the few areas of bracken left	bracken	gorse	medium/low	Stop encroachment of gorse/trees. Encourage wider spread of bracken. Maintain paths throughto 17th fairway
11	Beside and behind 17th tee, this has utilities, car parking on linksfield, bus shelter and is mixture of gorse, sloe bushes and trees. Start of Linksfield firebreak with access through to 18th tee.	gorse	trees	medium/low	Maintain gorse height. Review scrub and tree growth.
12	Woodbridge Road (A1214) entrance with path leading to the Golf Club. Bounded by 18th fairway and the pond path. Several paths run through here and there is a fido bin near the 18th fairway as well as one with bag dispenser at golf club entrance.	gorse	trees	high/ medium	Maintain gorse height. Review scrub and tree growth. Maintain secondary paths through at width of 1.5m.
13	Sloped wooded area beside the 17th green	trees	gorse/heather	low	Manage encroachment of saplings and gorse but maintain enclosed feel to deter cycles from using the slope - barriers erected and need maintaining.
14	Behind the 18th green and adjacent to 10th tee, Golf Club have aggregate storage area here with a bank.	gorse, trees	brambles and nettles	low	Golf Club to manage.
15	Between 18th fairway and 10th fairway. This is an open area with an avenue of trees - mainly mature birches	grass	trees	low	Maintain trees.
16	Triangle that runs along 17th fairway, behind 10th green across the ridge to 16th fairway. Has the Rushmere Walk and access path from 17th to 16th fairways. Fido bin at behind 10th green and 17th fairway	gorse	trees	high	Manage gorse height. Maintain footpaths to 1.5m width.
17	Between 16th fairway/green and 17th fairway. This is an open area with an avenue of trees - mainly mature birches.	grass	trees	low	Maintain trees.
18	Undulating carry area in front of 10th tee - some informal paths as well as main path from 10th tee to fairway.	heather	grass	low	Encourage heather. Remove gorse and saplings.
19	Beside 10th fairway, along pond path to North of path linking 10th/11th fairways. A few paths lead through here.	gorse	trees	high	Manage gorse height. Maintain footpaths to 1.5m width.
20	Adjacent to 16th fairway to Linksfield firebreak and main path from Linksfield to old football pitches. Contains several paths of various widths to 16th fairway.	gorse		high	Manage gorse height. Maintain footpaths to 1.5m width. Manage sapling growth.
21	Wooded area leaving club house on the right of the 1st tee/fairway. Several bird/bat boxes and other habitats. Mostly mature trees with scrub underneath. Trafalgar Walk with several paths leading to 1st fairway. Fido and bag dispensers.	Trees	Gorse	low	Maintain footpaths 2.5m near houses, 1.5m otherwise. Remove branches below 2m encroaching on paths.
22	Flat level grass area with a small group of trees near 1st tee.	grass	trees	low	Keep open to allow sight of golfers.
23	Golf Club practice range - aligned with tree avenue to 9th fairway.	grass	trees	low	Keep open to allow sight of golfers.
24	Adjacent to practice range, 11th fairway and path linking 10th and 11th fairways. GLT have done some clearance and dead hedging in here. Several paths link to the Rushmere Walk and from the practice ground.	gorse	various	high	Maintain diversity here with inaccessible heather areas to promote nesting areas.
25	In front of 11th tee, to the left and in front of the 16th tee and runs alongside the 15th fairway to provide some line of sight to 15th tee. Pond path disects the heather.	heather		low	Manage encroachment of gorse, saplings. Promote heather growth. Keep lines of sight open from pond path.
26	Bank adjacent to 15th fairway, 16th fairway and old football pitch. Path on top of slope and one that runs down from old football pitch to 15th fairway.	gorse		high	Manage gorse height and aging. Maintain secondary footpaths through at 1.5m width. GLT to maintain dead hedging and areas they have cleared
27	Old football pitch area.	heather		low	Manage gorse and sapling encroachment.
28	Large area of gorse, bounded by Linksfield firebreak, 13th fairway/green, old football pitch and main path from Linksfield to old football pitch. Contains a memorial fir tree and several paths.	gorse		high	Manage gorse height. Maintain footpaths to 2.5m width or 1.5m depending on firebreak or secondary path. Manage sapling growth.
29	Linksfield firebreak path, bordered with trees.	grass	trees		Manage growth to maintain firebreak - 5 m?
30	Small wooded area with vehicle path through between two flat grass areas linking the 1st fairway with 9th fairway	trees	scrub	low	Manage scrub growth and remove saplings.
31	Flat level grass area linking 1st fairway with 9th fairway. Often used for football, picnics and dog socialisation. Fido bin on corner- old cricket pitch?	grass		low	Golf Club mow grass regulary.
32	Bounded by 9th fairway, 11th green and practice range.	gorse	scrub	high	Maintain gorse growth and stop from getting larger.
33	Large area of gorse, bounded by 11th fairway, 12th fairway, 14th green and pond path. There are several paths crossing this, providing walkers with many routes to avoid fairways.	gorse	trees	high	Maintain paths. Review gorse height and growth and look to zone and re-generate gorse.
34	Sloped area behind the pond and adjacent to 15th fairway - areas have been cleared and seeded for heather after fire.	heather			Promote heather. Manage gorse and Sapling encroachment.
35	Alongside 1st fairway, 1st green, Tasmania Road.	gorse	trees	medium	Manage Trafalgar Walk as firebreak. Manage gorse height. Maintain secondary paths through at 1.5m. Remove and manage scrub under oaks between Trafalgar Walk and Tasmania Road. Trim trees as required to keep off public highway.
36	Adjacent to 9th fairway, large flat grass area and small wooded area with number of mature oaks.	heather	broome	low	Promote tree thinning and sapling removal.
37	In front of 14th green and pond, joining with 12th fairway.	heather	trees	low	Promote heather. Manage gorse and sapling encroachment.
38	Adjacent to 13th fairway and Linksfield path. Path to Blackdown Avenue with fido and bag dispenser.	trees	scrub	low	Promote tree thinning, scrub control and sapling removal.
39	Heath Road entrance near Community police house	trees	scrub	low	Promote tree thinning, scrub control and sapling removal.
40	1st fairway/green to grass area and sandlings path. Recent fire. Several paths linking Sandlings path and 1st fairway. Two paths separate this into 3 sub-zones. Paths allow walkers to keep away from 2nd tee and fairway.	gorse		high	Following fire - cut all birch and gorse down to ground level and dispose of trimmings. All to re-grow whilst maintaining two secondary paths from 1st fairway through to Heath Walk.
41	Part of old Parade Ground, adjacent to 9th fairway and several gorse areas. This is a large area of heather that is endanger of being overtaken by saplings - contains several informal paths.	heather			Remove saplings and gorse. Promote heather and look at age profiles. Manage broome Manage trees to promote single large trees rather than encroachment of wooded areas.
42	North of Heath Walk, bounded by 9th fairway and 12th tee.	gorse	trees	high	Manage gorse height and sapling growth.
43	Behind the 8th green beyond the conifers and as the 12th fairway opens out, Fido bin	heather	grass	low	Promote heather. Stop gorse and saplings from encroaching.
44	Large wooded area that runs from 12th green/fairway across the slope to the Sandlings nature reserve and incorporates the access path from Brendon Drive.	trees	scrub	low	Manage scrub. Manage woodland e.g. Tree thinning.
45	By Heath Road entrance with Fido bin and bag dispenser. Incorporates 2nd tee.	bracken	bramble	low	Cut back and clear twice a year, allow bracken to come back but maintain paths and firebreaks.
46	Large area of gorse south of Heath Walk from adjacent to 2nd fairway leading to 6th/7th tees. Many paths run through this area which does open to grass/heather areas.	gorse	trees	high	Needs discussion - paths are generally overgrown and difficult to walk through. Some areas growing back after fires in 2020/21.
47	Part of old Parade Ground, adjacent to 7th fairway woods (area 51) and Heath Walk. This is a large area of heather that is endanger of being overtaken by saplings - contains several paths and old cycle speedway track.	grass	heather	low	Remove saplings and gorse. Promote heather and look at age profiles. Manage broome. Manage trees to promote single large trees rather than encroachment of wooded areas.
48	Boundary between Sandling nature reserve and Common, several paths link to 8th and 12th Fairways. Potential litter and gathering area.	trees	scrub	low	Maintain firebreak width of 2.5m minimum. Manage woodland as required.
49	Bounded by Gleneagles Drive and 2nd fairway. Fido bin and several paths including a perimeter path. GLT have carried out some clearance and dead hedging. Also informal seat by entrance to Gleneagles Drive.	trees	scrub inc. bracken	low	Maintain tree growth over boundaries. Maintain path at 1.5m at least - consider upgrading to firebreak.
50	Just off the Long Wood Walk past the 6/7th tee and 2nd fairway and behind the 5th green.	heather	grass	medium	Maintain heather, and grass. Manage saplings and any gorse encroachment.
51	Wooded area alongside 7th fairway bounded by heather on North side.	trees	heather	low	Maintain woodland with heather beneath.
52	Wooded area containing the Long Wood Walk between the 7th fairway and the 5th fairway which is on Golf Club's private area.	trees	scrub	low	Maintain woodland and control scrub.
Linksfield Track	From A1214 outside houses on Linksfield. This is a wide track that allows vehicular access and is maintained by LRMG.	footpath with vehicular access		low	Restrictions on materials etc - liaise with LRMG.
Heath Walk	From tank traps on Heath Road, across 2nd tee, 9th tee, adjacent to 8th green and 12th fairway, meeting other paths in wooded area. This is part of the Sandlings Walk.	footpath		low	Maintain path width to 2m.
Long Wood Walk	Joins the Sandlings Nature Reserve alongside the private golf club land and 7th fairway leading across the 6th fairway to Heath Road.	footpath		low	Maintain path width to 1.5m.
Pond Walk	Central path from Woodbridge Road East past the pond to the large wooded area and eventually leading to Brendon Drive and bridleway into Kesgrave	footpath		low	maintain path width to 2m.
Rushmere Walk	From the Golf Club through gorse areas across the Pond Walk valley and through gorse bounded by 17th and 16th fairway.	footpath		low	Maintain path width to minimum 1.5m.
Trafalgar Walk	From Golf Club parallel to Tasmania Road to the tank traps on Heath Road.	footpath		low	Maintain path width to 1.5m.
Camberley Road	Area beside Camberley Road and Golf Club. Entrance and footpath beside area 12.	trees, bracken and scrub	gorse	med	Maintain firebreak to 2m. Residents have done work here in past suggest the area is monitored with scrub managed as required.

	Dominant vegetation/habitat	Management Objectives	Management actions	Frequency
1	Heather	Retain present areas and promote different age range.	Retain present areas and promote different age range. Prevent encroachment - remove Saplings. Protect areas - dead hedging	Every 3-5 years Every 2-3 years One off with yearly checks and maintenance as required
1	Heather	Expand area to promote more heather coverage.	Remove gorse - roots and all, prepare seed bed and seed. Scrape areas and seed - protect from unwanted traffic. Promote different species to encourage greater diversification of wildlife.	As required As required As required
2	Gorse	Prevent spread into other areas. Encourage gorse into other areas - for diversity. Eradicate gorse from selected areas. Create varied aged range across gorse areas. Prevent Gorse from becoming too leggy.	Trim edges to maintain paths, firebreaks and lines of sight. Remove Saplings - birch etc. Cut to ground level and remove roots. Regular trimming and coppicing. Regular trimming and coppicing	Every 4-6 months As required Every 3-5 years Every 10 years Every 5-10 years
3	Non-gorse scrub (bramble, nettles, broome etc)	Prevent spread into other areas	Cut to ground level. Trim edges to maintain paths,firebreaks and lines of sight. Remove saplings - birch etc.	Every 3-5 years Every 4-6 months Every 2-3 years
4	Woodland	Prevent spread into other areas. Maintain existing trees - use tree survey to prioritise work. Remove trees to promote stronger growth of others. Check Safety of dead trees left for woodpeckers etc.	Prevent encroachment - remove saplings. Trimming and coppicing. Part of tree survey? Trim as required.	As required Every 3-5 years Yearly
5	Non-heathland species	Control and remove non-heathland species. Monitor for Japanese Knot Weed.	Cut to ground level and remove roots as needed. Inspect site of previous outbreak.	As required
6	Firebreaks	Identify firebreaks and recommended widths.	Seek Fire Brigade advice. Draw up plan and prioritise work to ensure firebreaks are up to code.	Yearly
6	Firebreaks	Maintain firebreaks to recommended widths and height of near vegetation.	Trim as required. Review work plan to prioritise over high vegetation endangering firebreak breach.	Yearly
7	Paths	Identify paths to be monitored and recommended widths. Main paths to be maintained, Trafalgar, Rushmere, Pond, Heath, Long Wood, Linksfield and Brendon access.	Trim edges to maintain paths, firebreaks and lines of sight.	Every 4-6 months
8	Grassland	Maintain grassland.	Mow grassland to reduce fire risk and improve re-generation, promoting growth.	Yearly
9	Pond	Manage reeds.	Maintain at least 30% visible open water. Mow grassland to reduce fire risk and improve re-generation, promoting growth. Remove saplings. Remove young gorse. Trim hedgerows. Maintain fencing and gates. Monitor water levels monthly. Conduct wildlife survey.	Yearly Every 2-3 years Every 3-5 years Yearly Every 3-5 years
9	Pond	Manage surroundings.

Rushmere Commoners Committee - Long term Management Plan

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