Connecting Cannock Chase

It's as rare as rainforest and as fragile as ancient woodland. This makes heathland a top priority for nature conservationists. We need to ensure the wildlife that needs this habitat has somewhere to go.

About 20 per cent of the planet's lowland heathland is found in Britain, and Cannock Chase forms part of a biologically and historically important landscape which includes the largest surviving area of lowland heathland in the Midlands. 

Thanks to a successful funding application, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has taken on the management of a heathland corridor for yen years, owned by Forestry England on Cannock Chase. Over coming years, the Trust aims to restore and reconnect this corridor to the important surrounding heathland habitat.

Wildlife corridor

This restored area of heathland will form a network of 'corridors' connecting existing heathland areas. This will enable heathland wildlife to move easily between the different heathland areas on the Chase - an important factor in their future survival.

Heathland will be restored by carrying out a targeted programme of scrub and bracken control. Although some trees and small areas of bracken are a vital component of heathland habitats, if left unchecked they soon encroach onto open heathland making it hard for heather and other plants to thrive.

Volunteering

You can join in and help to restore heathland by becoming a volunteer for the project. Volunteering days take place on the first Wednesday of each month, to join them please register your interest by completing a form here: bit.ly/cannockchasevolunteering or by emailing Hayley Dorrington: h.dorrington@staffs-wildlife.org.uk 

Four-legged help

In time a team of hardy docile native cattle will also help to restore the rare heathland habitat. The cows will gently munch on invasive plants and fast growing grasses, enabling the heather to flourish.

Over 100 years ago grazing was common on Cannock Chase and it is a sustainable way of managing the area. Walkers will still be able to access the areas where the cows are through a series of kissing gates, along footpaths and bridlegates on bridleways.

Connecting Cannock Chase funding