RSPB start countryside stewardship works on areas surrounding disused runways

In September 2020 Blackbushe Airport was approached by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who were focussing their efforts on 41 ‘Priority Landscapes’ up and down the country. The Thames Basin Heaths SPA was one of those priority landscapes. They wanted to explore the possibility of undertaking works on the areas surrounding our disused runways. By accessing Countryside Stewardship funds they believed they could improve this important site to deliver as much as possible to support wildlife.

On 21st June 2023 Blackbushe Airport Ltd (BAL) and the RSPB entered into an 11-year lease for the non-hard standing areas of the disused runways. BAL has leased the land to the RSPB for a peppercorn, and the RSPB has applied for Countryside Stewardship funding to improve the site.

Over the next 10 years the RSPB staff and volunteers will be delivering a scheme of land management which will see a lot of the overgrown areas brought back to heathland, along with important access and safety measures by cutting wider paths and firebreaks. This will improve habitats for wildlife.

Mark and Talli from the RSPB and their team started yesterday (Wednesday 14th February) on the old perimeter track to the east of the area (see the dashed pair of lines which curve from the northern boundary to the eastern boundary). Important first steps are turning this into a proper firebreak, and improving access for emergency vehicles.

The RSPB plan to encourage volunteer groups to participate, and we’ll be sure to share that information when available.

Matt plans to attend the regular Yateley Common Management Committee, the next meeting is on Wednesday 6th March.

Disused Runways Area

The area of the disused runways above is common land, owned by Blackbushe Airport. It is not only an important protected site with Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Area (SPA) designations, but it’s also a popular venue for the public, with the large expanses of tarmac allowing a great safe venue for children to ride bicycles, rollerskate, or skateboard, and with lots of paths which are great for walking or exercising.

The area is part of Yateley Common but is not part of the area managed by Hampshire Countryside Services, although as adjacent landowners, we have good communication on each other’s activities to ensure they are complimentary.

If you see anything on the disused runways or surrounding areas which causes concern, or might pose a safety hazard, please let us know by contacting us on admin@blackbusheairport.co.uk or calling 01252 471 300.

Yateley Common County Park Works

You may have noticed a lot of clearance work at the east end of the runway. This is work that was included within the Hampshire Countryside Service regular heathland management works. The area was quite overgrown and hadn’t had any intervention for 7 or 8 years. Hampshire Countryside Service published their works for 2023/24 on their wordpress site: https://yateleycommoncountrypark.wordpress.com/

The work is being undertaken by contractors on behalf of Hampshire Countryside Service, and is not linked to the airport.