Horse Common reserve in the New Forest (Image: Daily Express/Jonathan Buckmaster)
A forgotten corner of William the Conqueror’s old hunting forest has become a sanctuary for some of Britain’s most threatened wildlife.
The red-listed woodcock and lesser spotted woodpecker have all found a home on a 93 acre plot of land called Horse Common.
The former heathland is undergoing massive transformations to turn it into a haven for animals thanks to the generosity of Daily Express readers and green energy boss Dale Vince.
Among those enjoying the beauty of Horse Common last week was Express reader Rachel Putterill, 71, from Walton-on-Thames.
Surrounded by the rich autumnal hues of the New Forest, she marvelled at the potential of the reserve and the wildlife it now nurtures.
“It’s magical,” she said, her enthusiasm matching the vibrant colours of the season.
Rachel added: “I think it’s a fantastic place. I’m very impressed by what they’re doing here and I’m very proud that the Express has helped bring it about, and Dale as well.
“I’m very fortunate where I am that I have a lot of nature around me but certainly somewhere like this needs to be protected.”
Despite the site’s tranquillity, it is obvious that human handprints are all over the landscape.
The first order of business for the RSPB has been to fell conifer plantations and clear invasive rhododendron.
Dante Munns, site manager of the reserve, said: “Walking through these landscapes, it’s easy to think that they’re very natural and untouched. They’re very quiet, tranquil places with big mature majestic trees.
Dale Vince, readers and Daily Express reporters at Horse Common (Image: Daily Express/Jonathan Buckmaster)
“But as we walk through them and start to look a bit more, you see some of the invasive species planted here, some of the confider plantations, but you also see some of the rhododendrons that have started to make their way and move into the landscape.
“Our first step really is trying to remove some of those negative influences in the landscape and then start to change it but it’s going to take a long time. It’s a slow process but if we can start to do those early interventions, then we can start to think about bigger things like wetting up the landscape, bringing water into the landscape and holding it here. That’s where you get that really major transformation.”
He said his conservation charity has discovered some “very special woodland species” like lesser spotted woodpeckers and hawfinches
Dante added: “But there’s also species starting to move in now that we’ve started to change the landscape and open it up a little bit more. We’re getting birds like woodcock, nightjars occupying those open spaces.”
The lack of special nature designation in the area means the reserve, which is open to the public, is a blank canvas to experiment on and create habitats lost elsewhere in the UK.
Dale and the Express helped give nature a gift at Christmas in 2022 when they rallied together to raise £53,000 for the RSPB to purchase the land which has been described as the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle.
Dale Vince at Horse Common reserve (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Standing in the centre of the reserve, the eco entrepreneur said: “I remember this spot two years ago when we stood here. This has changed from being a meadow to some real kind of rough and tumble land. It looks lovely.
“We’re here today with some readers today from the Express and it was a wonderful thing to team up with the Express’s readers and the RSPB to find the money to buy this place. It’s a piece of a jigsaw. When you look at a map, it’s the missing piece and it will allow the RSPB to link up to a special old piece of woodland to the north.”
Despite being known for its rolling green hills and picturesque landscapes, Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world – with just 53% of its biodiversity left.
And this part of the New Forest will be a safe haven for the most at risk species.
Former environment editor John Ingham said: “It has great, great potential to be a top reserve, particularly given its such a mix of woodland, heathland and boggy marshland.
“It’s going to be so good for so many species including birds that are quite rare in this country like nightjars which are currently sunning themselves in Africa, Woodcocks, lesser-spotted woodpeckers and possibly redshanks.
An aerial shot of Horse Common (Image: Daily Express/Jonathan Buckmaster)
“Some of these birds are on our red list. What’s lovely as well is that over the years, Daily Express readers have let me know just how important they think the natural world is. They and Dale Vince have put their money where their mouths are and helped raise the money to save this lovely piece of land. It would have been tragic if it had been lost. And with the RSPB’s expertise, I’m sure this place is going to be really important for wildlife.
“You can see where some of the confers that were planted for commercial reasons have been felled. They’re being cleared slowly so that it’s a gentle transition and they don’t upset the wildlife. You can also see where invasive rhododendrons have been removed. It’s all part of a gentle, slow process to transform this back to how it was in the days of William the Conqueror when this was hit hunting forest.
“Thank you to all the Express readers who chipped in for this reserve. Thanks to Dale for adding his own contribution and to the RSPB for all their work to make it better for wildlife.”