Evaluation

3    EVALUATION AND CONFIRMATION OF IMPORTANT FEATURES

3.1    Evaluation of the site in a wider perspective

    Queen Elizabeth Country Park is one of the largest and most diverse sites in the     country, with a reputation for recreation, conservation and commercial activity.

    The constituent elements of this site are evaluated individually in this section     and therefore will only be highlighted in that order with no implied hierarchy.

    Landscape:  An important part of the South Downs, South Hampshire Downs

    and the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

    Archaeology:  Extensive evidence of early settlement part protected as     scheduled monuments and in addition some newly discovered features, all of     which are of regional importance.

    Nature Conservation:  The Yew woodlands and calcareous grassland are of     national importance.  The assemblage of lower plants is significant on a     European scale.

    Public use, Access and Recreation:  A centre important to Hampshire and the     surrounding counties, within a radius of at least 35 minutes ‘drive time’.

    Interpretation:  A flagship site for the Hampshire County Council and Forest     Enterprise.

    Education:  A key site for the delivery of environmental education to schools     from Hampshire and beyond.

    Income generation potential:  A degree of commercial activity, producing a     50% return on expenditure with a low ‘ticket price’ and well developed     secondary spend, that is matched by few sites nationally.  

3.2    Landscape Features and Quality

    The whole area of Queen Elizabeth Country Park lies within the Character Area     known as the South Hampshire Downs and the Landscape Type defined a     Scarps; Downland.

    To better assess this landscape it is necessary to first introduce the wider     perspective of the South Downs and then to split the site into three local     character areas which can be described in greater detail.

    3.2.1  The South Downs

    The South Downs area is dominated by a prominent ridge of chalk, softened by     a smooth generally uninterrupted skyline, which runs from Winchester to the     spectacular cliffs of the Seven Sisters where they end abruptly at the English     Channel.

    The Downs have a steep, dominant north facing scarp slope, and a more rolling     south facing dip slope which meets the South Coast Plain.  They are open in     character, and their elevated nature provides extensive views across the     neighbouring countryside.

    Land use on the Downs is largely determined by topography and soil quality.      On the gentle dip slopes arable land predominates, with cereal crops adding     colour and texture to the landscape.  Interspersed with the cereals are permanent and semi-permanent grass leys used for dairy, sheep and beef     production.  Large unimproved areas of tightly grazed chalk grassland survive     on the steep slopes.  This habitat is used for sheep grazing, which has been prevalent since the Middle Ages.  The centuries of sheep grazing on steep     slopes have produced a network of narrow tracks following the contours of the     slope.  Over the years these have eroded exposing the underlying chalk and     forming the highly characteristic terracettes of the South Downs Scarp Slopes.      The decline in sheep grazing after the Second World War, together with a     dramatic fall in the rabbit population due to myxamatosis in the 1950s has     resulted in considerable scrub invasion of many formerly open slopes.      Woodland is common on the western half of the Downs, where a combination     of recent conifer and broadleaf plantations and ancient semi-natural woodland     occurs.

    The area has a rich archaeological character with Neolithic and Bronze Age     barrows, prehistoric field systems and Iron Age hill forts as distinctive     landscape features.  Today settlement is slight, with a few scattered villages and hamlets traditionally built of brick and flint.

    Notable exceptions to the traditional built character include the urban     extensions along the A3 of Horndean and Clanfield to the south, and Petersfield     to the north.

    Downland footpaths and bridleways often follow drove roads and transport     routes which have been used for centuries.  The high parts of the Downs,     including the South Downs Way, are among their most important recreational     features.  The escarpment tops and coastal headlands are particularly popular     places due largely to the panoramic views, ease of access and apparent sense of     remoteness.

    3.2.2  Local Landscape Character Areas

    Scarps and Downland /Open (open chalk uplands with downland and     escarpments) Butser Hill / Oxenbourne Down

    Principal Characteristics

• Prominent dome shaped elevated chalk upland with open, shallow sloping summit areas.
• Steep escarpments on perimeter of summit areas with convexo-concavo slope profile characteristic of chalk.
• Escarpments dissected by open or wooded coombes/dry valley systems extending up to summit ridges.
• Shallow well drained calcareous silty soils, together with areas of clayey soils over clay with flints on the summit.
• Vegetation cover mainly confined to areas of woodland or scrub invasion on steep escarpment slopes and within coombes, some of which are designated as ancient semi-natural.
• Large areas of protected species rich improved and unimproved grassland surviving on low fertility soils, managed by controlled grazing.
• High biodiversity and rarity value of many areas reflected in the designation of areas as SSSI and LNR (Oxenbourne).
• Strong variation in micro-climate with exposed windswept summit areas, sheltered coombes, and higher incidence of frost pockets on north/north east facing slopes within coombes.
• Rich source of archaeological remains on summit areas and southern slopes.
• General absence of built development, confined to limited public facilities such as the car park, kiosk, and the telecommunications mast on Butser.
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    Management Issues

    Maintaining the balance between species rich grassland and important areas of     calcareous scrub both on site and in immediate environs.

    Control of visitor pressure during the summer season in terms of the visual     impact of car parking and localised erosion of summit paths, in particular the     South Downs Way.

    Further loss of ‘downland associated’ character through arable cropping or     inappropriate recreational activity on surrounding land.

    Appropriate management of woodland, including coppice areas, and those on     more inaccessible steep escarpments, to ensure the quality of woodland.

    Visual impact of the BT tower and associated development.

    Possible conflict of events using southern slopes in terms of excessive size,     frequency, or when adverse weather conditions are prevalent.    Scarps and Downland / Wooded (enclosed / wooded chalk uplands with escarpments) Queen Elizabeth Forest

    Principal Characteristics

• Prominent dome shaped elevated chalk upland/ridgeline with shallow sloping summit area extending up to the steep north facing ‘structural’ escarpment at the junction of the chalk with the older upper greensand beds, linking into the main South Downs escarpment.
• Southern dip slope deeply dissected by dry valleys and secondary ‘erosional’ escarpments.
• Shallow, well drained calcareous soils.
• Dense woodland cover throughout the area comprising both coniferous plantations together with mixed deciduous and beech woodland.
• Much of the woodland was planted in the 1930s for commercial purposes.  Since that period regular thinning has been carried out on a rotational basis.
• Enclosed character resulting from the dense tree cover, with intermittent and limited views from rides, and more extensive recreational clearings.
• The designation of this area as a Country Park has resulted in the establishment of a comprehensive system of permissive walking, cycling and riding routes, and a high degree of public access.
• The A3(T) follows the western boundary of this area within the floor of a dry valley which has been artificially deepened to cut through the chalk escarpment and achieve appropriate vertical road alignment; steep engineered facets to the road cutting are prominent.
• Built development is very limited, and confined to the Park Visitor Centre and ancillary service buildings and car parks.
• Chalk quarry area located on the north western boundary, partly contained by the woodland cover but visible from elevated areas, notably the east facing slopes of Butser Hill, and from the A3(T).
• Restored landfill site located within a former quarry to the south west of Buriton and at the interface with the Scarps - Hangers landscape type.
• Despite the high elevation, especially on the summit ridges, the dense tree cover has an ameliorating effect resulting in a relatively sheltered microclimate.
• The area is bordered to the east by the main Portsmouth to Waterloo railway line.

    Management Issues

    Visual prominence of the area from the A3(T), near the southern ‘gateway’ into     the AONB, and adjacent elevated locations, notably Butser Hill summit area     and Country Park, and impact on visitors perception of area.

    The areas of coniferous woodland, notably the south facing slopes of Holt     Down, have a dense homogenous appearance and limited seasonal variation,     contrasting with the ‘softer’ indigenous cover of beech and ash dominated woodland that extends across other sections of the character area.

    Strong contrast of almost continuous woodland cover with the open downland     character of the adjacent Butser Hill area.

    Management of the forest sections to balance the need for a commercial return     with the visual impact of felling and extraction.

    Visual impact of the chalk quarry on the north western perimeter of the area.

    Visual impact of the steep road cutting of the A3(T) through the chalk     escarpment.

    Past replacement of semi-natural woodland with plantation woodland, causing     loss of biodiversity.

    Balance of encouraging appropriate public access to the Country Park and the     impact on ecologically sensitive areas.

    Protection of sensitive areas and sites of archaeological importance, and     potential damage to undiscovered archaeological remains as a result of     woodland management.

    Scarps - Hangers (wooded chalk escarpment) Butser Hill North / War     Down

    Principal Characteristics

• Very steep and occasionally precipitous chalk escarpment deeply dissected in many sections to form a locally sinuous edge.
• Shallow, well drained calcareous and fine silty soils.Almost continuous cover of predominantly deciduous woodland mainly comprising beech with some yew, together with ash, field maple and holly, forming a distinctive belt of hanging woodland.
• High biodiversity value of woodland which includes many areas of ancient semi-natural and replanted woodland.
• Powerful edge forming a dramatic backcloth to the adjacent undulating lowland landscape.
• Secluded ‘secret’ character contrasted with occasional open clearings in the woodland with afford spectacular views.
• Well established system of tracks and footpaths within the woodland providing limited access.
• Contrast in micro-climate from the more sheltered middle and lower slopes, and exposed upper sections at the summit of the escarpment (Butser Hill).
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    Management Issues

    Requirement for co-ordinated and long term management of semi-natural     ancient woodland within the Hangers to ensure that its high biodiversity value     is sustained.

    Appropriate management to retain the occasional open sections of the     escarpment.

    Maintenance of dead wood features.

    This evaluation has been sourced from the following references;

    The character of England;  Landscape Wildlife  and Natural Features - English     Nature and the Countryside Commission, 1997.

    East Hampshire Integrated Management Guidelines - Landscape Design     Associates, 1998.

    The Hampshire Landscape - HCC publications, 1993.

3.3    Evaluation of Site for Archaeology

    The national importance of Butser Hill in terms of its archaeology has already     been recognised by the scheduling of a considerable area of the hill as an     ancient monument.  This scheduling takes in features which extend from the Bronze Age onwards.  Though the historical provenance of some of the features     is debatable, there is no doubt that Butser Hill may provide a great deal of     evidence about past land use.

    More recently, evidence has been brought to light, first by the East Hampshire     AONB Archaeological Survey (1996) and subsequently by more detailed work,     commissioned by the Country Park and Hampshire County Council, on the     value of Queen Elizabeth Forest from an archaeological perspective (1997).

    Initially, the East Hampshire AONB Archaeological Survey noted the extent     and exceptional preservation of field lynchets and holloways, and the presence     of previously unrecorded drystone structures close to the already scheduled     Roman villa site.

    The next stage, an earthwork survey, demonstrated that, despite the fact that the     earthworks were within an area of dense conifer plantation, the flint structures     were well preserved and potentially, very important.

    This stage highlighted how these sites could best be managed - the first element     of this management, the removal of much of the tree cover - was carried out.      This, in its turn. exposed more detail of the area and led to a further commission for a supplementary survey of the site (1998).

    The purpose of this survey was to record the new elements revealed by the clear     fell and to provide an up-dated descriptive and interpretative account of the     earthworks.  This survey has been carried out.

    The conclusions reached show that there is now stronger evidence for the     existence of well preserved structural remains.  To quote the report:

        “Relict landscapes of this type are a rarity in southern England, where             modern agriculture has severely damaged or destroyed extant remains.

        In particular, the survival of building foundations... may denote an area of         high archaeological potential, which could merit consideration for             scheduling”.

    It should be pointed out that, though the features are close to an accepted     Roman site, there is, as yet, insufficient evidence to link them with that site.      However, increased research on the site will doubtless further our knowledge about the historical land use in this area.

    Beyond the immediate concern of the earthworks on Holt Down, there are     several other features which have been identified as of archaeological     importance within the forest.  An example is the Bronze Age round barrow at     the top of War Down.  This, in itself, is potentially schedulable as an ancient     monument.  However, its presence in the context of six other, though     smaller,barrows suggests that this is possibly the site of a prehistoric cemetery.      In addition, the fact that Anglo-Saxon artefacts have also been found at the site     serves to emphasise the importance of this area as having been in use over a     considerable period.

    It is clear, therefore, that the Country Park is a highly important site containing     relict landscapes from the Bronze Age onwards and so having the potential of     adding to our knowledge of past human occupation and activity in this area of     East Hampshire.

    Management Issues

    Appropriate long term management of the archaeological sites within the forest.

    The control of recreational pressure on all sites.

    An evaluation of all more recent ‘industrial archaeology’ features to include the     Butser Pond, Target Valley Butts and the flint working sites in the forest.

3.4    Evaluation of site for Nature Conservation

    Queen Elizabeth Country Park is of importance at national, regional and local     levels. In the national context Butser Hill / Oxenbourne Down are important     because of the extent of both Yew woodland and calcareous grassland.

    The assemblage of lower plants is also of national, possibly european     significance.  There are also a number of important invertebrates, some of     which are nationally or locally rare or scarce.

    The range of habitats and their location within the intensively farmed East     Hampshire/South Downs landscape add to the sites conservation status.

          Management issues:

         Recognition that Queen Elizabeth Country Park, and in particular Butser Hill /                                       

1.          Oxenbourne Down is a Nationally important site.

Understanding the ecological role Queen Elizabeth Country Park has within the wider East Hants countryside

The protection of the important component species.

    Size

Most of Butser Hill / Oxenbourne Down is a Site of Special Scientific Interest,  and the SSSI designation actually stretches beyond the boundary of the Country Park. At 231.2 ha this is large when compared against other lowland

terrestrial SSSIs, and it is the second largest area of chalk grassland in Hampshire.

It has been estimated that there is a maximum of 7480ha of CG2 grassland on the chalk in England. As at least 40ha of  Butser / Oxenbourne falls into the CG2 vegetation class, this means that the Country Park holds at least 0.5% of the national total of CG2.

Most calcareous grassland sites are less than 40ha in extent, which makes Butser Hill a large site in a national context.

    The extent of the key habitats, if you include the Queen Elizabeth Forest, and     the overall size of the Country Park means that it can accommodate a number     of visitors and a range of activities without unduly detracting from the conservation importance of the area.

Management issues:

Maintaining the extent of the Country Park, the Butser Hill SSSI, and their key habitats.

    Diversity

    The site is diverse in terms of its habitats, plant community types and species.

 It has a range of calcareous grassland communities from  NVC CG1 / 2 in the forest blocks to  CG 2,3 and 6 within the Butser Hill / Oxenbourne Down complex. The ex-improved pastures on Butser Hill and the picnic areas in the Forest add to the grassland diversity, these range form MG1 TO MG7.

The woodland habitats include Yew woodland W13a and Ash dominated W8 as well as small fragments of other types.

Scrub is dominated by the Hawthorn W21 community.                               

This diversity has been further enhanced by the storms of 1987 and the early 1990’s which created glades and natural regeneration within the main forest blocks.

Other habitats include man made ponds, chalk cliffs created through the construction of the A3 and quarrying and a variety of micro habitats create through the differing aspects, steepness, and general topography.

    This varied habitat diversity has led to an increase in species diversity.

Management issues:

Maintaining and developing the current habitat and species diversity

Species

Whilst the Country Park supports a  diverse range of  important species, three species groups can be picked out as key features.

Pardon (1990) ranked Butser Hill / Oxenbourne Down in the top 20 Hampshire Chalk grassland sites for plant species richness and 6th out of 50 sites for the overall species richness of the CG2A community.

The site may lack some of the more local species, such as orchids, but overall it has a rich vascular flora.

Brewis, Bowman and Rose (1996) describe Butser / Oxenbourne as the richest of any Hampshire chalk grassland site in terms of its bryophyte and lichen flora. It also has the richest terricolous lichen flora of any single site on the English Chalk. Brewis  et al 1996 also reported that Butser Hill has some 125 bryophytes and 82 lichens recorded in chalk grassland, a total that has not been reached in any other English site to date.

The ISR report (English Nature 1998) shows 93 species, including 6 Red Data Book species, 7 described as rare, 8 Nationally scarce ( Notable A)  & 27 as Nationally scarce.

Over 30 butterfly species have been recorded on the site and with further investigation the moth list is increasing year by year.

There are over 40 Bio-Diversity Action Plan Species that are either in the

Country Park or within the Park evirons.

Management issues:

Maintaining and developing the present species diversity (particularly BAP species).

    Naturalness

    The forest of Holt Down and War Down is a recently (1920’s onwards) planted     forest of beech and conifer. Remnants of semi-natural vegetation can be found     and take the form of areas of woodland that pre-date the modern forest and     small patches of chalk grassland.

    All of the open water features within the Country Park are man made.

    The lower slopes of Butser Hill (A3 slopes) are pastures that until recently were     topped regularly and improved using nitrogen based fertiliser.  These slopes are     now reverting back to a semi-natural grassland.

         The calcareous grasslands have come about through years of sheep, cattle and     rabbit grazing.  These can be classed as having become a semi-natural habitat.

    Yew woodlands dominate the landscape and have generally come about         through fluctuations in the grazing regime.  

    There seems little doubt that left ungrazed Butser Hill would     become a     woodland, probably of yew.  This however does not detract from the     ‘naturalness’ of the grasslands or of their ecological worth.

    Chalk grasslands have developed as a semi-natural system and should be     treated as such.

    Rarity

It has already been mentioned that their are a significant number of nationally and locally rare and scarce species on site and in the general environs.

A number of these are closley associated with calcareous grasslands.

The bryophyte and lichen species and communities are particulary important, with many being rare, including one RDB  vulnerable species (Weissia condensa).

The Hepatic mat (liverwort) community charcterised by Frullania tamarisci, Porella arboris-vitae and Scapania aspera, found on the north-facing slope of Rake Bottom, is unknown on the continent and is rare in Great Britain. The Rake Bottom community is the most extensive area of this community on the English Chalk.

All of the semi-natural calcareous grassland types found within the Country Park are considered to be rare or scarce in a national context.

There is less than 10,000 ha of CG2 and CG6 remaining in Great Britain. Less than 2,000 ha of CG6 can be found in England.

Lowland calcareous grassland is a key habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is recognised as a community of European importance in the EU Habitats and Species Directive.

A number of rare and scarce invertebrates have been recorded on the site, as well as mamals and birds of local or national importance.

Management issues

Protecting the rare or scarce species and habtats

Developing long term monitoring systems

    Fragility

    The forest is generally quite robust, but suffers surface erosion on major trails     especially on horse and mountain bike routes. However many of the more     important species and habitats exist either at the edge of the main forest blocks     (eg forest roads and rides) or in the windblown / cleared areas. Forest     Operations can detract from the nature conseravtion interests if not carfully     planned.

    Erosion caused by sheep and rabbits can sometimes be beneficial, but this also     needs to be carefully monitored

An appropriate grazing regime is important to maintain the grassland habitats.

    Some species within the Country Park, especially birds, can be subject to     disturbance.  Where practicable measures must be taken to limit these     problems.

Management issues

Protecting the key species and habitats

Maintaining the approppriate balance between the working / recreation environment and the conservation / Biodiversity interests.

    Typicalness

    The habitats and species found at the Country Park are typical of this part of     East Hampshire and the South Downs in general.

The CG type plant communities and scrub mosaic represent what would have been the typical landscape prior to the extensive farming and development of the area.

What is perhaps untypical is the richness of the lower plants amongst the stands of CG2a.

    The valley bottoms contain typical MG type habitat.

Many of the invertebrates species, especially butterflies such as chalkhill blue, whilst no longer common, are nonetheless typical species of the downs.

Parts of the QE forest block contain older fragments of woodland, a number of typical species can be found. Within the more open areas, other species have been found which are not normally associated with this area. Records include sightings of Dartford Warbler.

Management issues

 Identifying the typical species and habitats

Maintaining the typical species and habitats

Recorded History

One of the most important aspects in the recorded history  is the fact that the yew woodlands of the area were the subject of a study by Dr A S Watt.  The continuing recording and study is of great nature conservation and scientific importance.

Dr Francis Rose has been actively recording both vascular and lower plants since the 1950s.

The invertebrate fauna has also been well studied over the last 25 years.

    A range of other informal studies and surveys have taken place over the years,     However these past systems of recording management practice were not very     detailed.

More work is needed in analysing and collating these reports so that their true worth can be assessed.

Management issues

Collating the recorded history

Making the information available to site staff and other interested people

    Position in Ecological / Geographical Unit

The Country Park is part of the South Downs/calcareous grasslands chain of hills and although isolated by intensive agricultural practice, roads and other development, ecologically similar sites exist nearby.  The long term objectives should stretch beyond the Country Park and link these sites.

Management issues

Maintaining the links with near by sites

Maintaining the onsite diversity

Exploring the need to be part of wider strategic plans ( ie SAC designation, South Downs National Park ?)

    Potential for Improvements/Restoration

    The ex-improved pastures are already subject to conservation grazing measures     which will see them become more species rich.  The proximity to species rich     grassland should increase the plant diversity of these pastures without resorting     to reseeding.

    Autumn badger foraging has also helped to break-up the sward and increase the     opportunities for new seed to germinate.

The Country Park is also involved in a chalk heath restoration programme. If this is successful then the potential will be there to encourage the development of chalk heath habitat on Butser hilltop.

Within the main forest blocks remnants of chalk grassland are being protected and potentially could be expanded, whilst the continued maintenace and develpoment of the windblown / regeneration areas has the potential to increse the biodiversity of this major part of the Country Park.

Management issues

The continuation of the existing projects

Identifying and resourcing future projects

3.5    Evaluation of public use, access and recreation

    Historically, the site has been used extensively, though informally, for access to     the countryside from the time that the Forestry Commission first acquired Holt     Down and War Down.  Largely, this has taken the form of walking and the     quiet enjoyment of the countryside.

    When Hampshire County Council acquired Butser Hill, public access again     was a major feature with anecdotal evidence of up to 1000 vehicles at one time     using the site on occasions.

    Since its inception, the Park has encouraged suitable recreational use of the site     and tried to maintain a balance whereby such use does not compromise the     conservation objectives of the partners, the primary objective of quiet enjoyment of the countryside or the integrity of the surrounding area.

    Fashions in recreation change, and the Park has adapted to these changes within     the parameters established above.  It is clear, however, that certain activities     require regulation so that they do remain within those parameters. Activities     have, therefore, been zoned to minimise their impact on both the environment     and other Park users.

    In the case of aerial activities, this zoning has been further regulated by the     involvement of local clubs in the management of their activities.  Butser Hill is     a prime site for hang-gliding, paragliding, model-aircraft flying and kite-flying     and to allow total freedom of access to these activities would conflict with both     conservation objectives and enjoyment of the landscape and its features.      Nonetheless, it is not feasible that such activities could be transferred to the     forested area of the Park.

    The differing, natural qualities of the site, therefore mean that large numbers of     people can enjoy a variety of recreational activities without impinging upon the     enjoyment of others.

    The ease with which people can reach the Park, means that this is a prime,     countryside venue for the people of Portsmouth and, to a certain extent,     Southampton as well as those living in the immediate area. Should the road network be further improved, the catchment area for the Park will consequently     increase.  And as further housing development takes place in Portsmouth,     Havant and East Hampshire, so too will the importance of the Park as an area     of open, accessible countryside suitable for a wide range of recreational     activities.

3.6    Evaluation of site for interpretation

    In order to carry out an evaluation of Queen Elizabeth Country Park it is     important firstly to define what is understood by interpretation;

        “An educational activity which aims to reveal meanings and relationships         through the use of original objects, by firsthand experience and by             illustrative media, rather than simply communicate factual information”.

            Q. F. Tilden

    And secondly to stress that this concept must be fully integrated in to all     aspects of the sites operation.

    In practical terms, for many years, Queen Elizabeth Country Park has used     ‘Tilden’s six principles’ of interpretation as the basis for explaining where and     if it is possible or suitable for interpretation to be carried out.

    The sites size and diversity, together with its accessibility and visitor facilities,     provide a potential for the interpretation of self and partner organisations which     is realised, to the extent of available resources, by a high staff culture made up     of trained, committed individuals.

    Whilst there are formal projects together with a culture of interpretative     provision there is no formal ‘Interpretative Plan’.

Management Issues

    The need to continually maintain staff awareness as to the opportunities for     interpretation provided by their day-to-day work.

    To ensure the appropriateness of any interpretation with respect to the policies     of respective partners and related organisations.     

    Where practicable all projects should seek to provide for public information,     consultation and interpretation.

    There is a requirement to maintain awareness and assist in delivery by the use     of suitable training.

3.7    Evaluation of site for educational use and potential

    In recent years Queen Elizabeth Country Park has been affected by a number of     quasi-political changes in the way education is run on a national basis.  This     has     been reflected in the way schools in general manage their budgets,     administration and curricula.  As a result the education service at Queen     Elizabeth Country Park operates across a diverse subject base and is very     reactive to changes in this market.

    However the traditional delivered environmental education, at 5000 children     (science 80%, geography 20%, key stages 1 and 2), still represents nearly half     of all recorded educational visits.

    The sessions can be broken down as follows:

Self guided	% by subject	Guided	% by subject
Wayfaring	53	Forest Activity	70
Forest Walk	26	Downland	11
Fun Rucksack	7	Park Management	3
Field work	14	Living History	16
Total	100	Total	100

    Frequent evaluation is carried out as required, and a data base has been set up     to make all educational information accessible.  A comprehensive Health and     Safety Policy is now in its third year.

    There is a definite season for ‘schools education’ and this is exaggerated by the     outdoor nature of the site and the limited classroom space.

Months    % of school numbers

            September         7    

            October         11

            November         4

            December         2

            January         1

            February         1

            March         6

            April         6

            May         11

            June        25    

            July         26

            August          -

    The site has a designated full-time education officer with an education assistant     for the busy schools season (April - August inclusive).  Additional support is     provided by other Park staff.

    The Park is also used for various peripheral activities to the main school season     including;  wayfaring, particularly by Naval personnel, Watch and YOC     groups, Geography GCSE project work, tertiary education and Duke of Edinburgh schemes.

    For all such activities a free teacher/leader visit is offered to maximise the     learning experience.

    The service does play a wider role in education by participation in local     interest/user groups.

    The potential for the future lies in consolidating the now successful holiday and     half-term activities together with new initiatives, to develop the self guided     markets including; mini orienteering, maths subjects and tertiary education.

    A marketing policy is being formulated to draw together all the areas of new     and existing markets within the current resources.

    Management Issues

1. •     Marketing and developing the service to the widest possible audience.
2. •     The outdoor nature of the site, lack of covered facilities and the subsequent     seasonality of demand.
3. • Maintenance of resources.

3.8    Evaluation of site for income generation potential

    The Joint Management Group under the terms of its 1972 Agreement, is     charged with ‘raising revenue in order to minimise the cost of operating the     Country Park’.

    No target for the level of this return was set at the time, however in 1993 a     ‘Memorandum of Agreement’ was drawn up to clarify and update as required.      These minor amendments were formally accepted in 1998 including the recognition that the greater part of the Park’s cost was met by Hampshire     County Council and that in the future this should be better balanced by Forest     Enterprise.  Both parties were directed to co-operate to this end to the extent of     available resources.

    Both partners are experiencing funding problems, and the subsequent annual     reduction in the park’s expenditure budget coupled with an increase in income     targets, over the last three years, has put commercial pressures on all the main     objectives.

    This increased commerciality is changing the culture of the site, both for staff     and visitors alike.

    The important factors to prevent this process going too far are:

• The maintenance of the Pay and Display ticket price for as long as is practicable.
• The development of secondary spend through directly managed and franchised business activity.
• The monitoring of all income activity against agreed targets.
• The agreement of a target for the percentage return of income over expenditure.  The following table illustrates the change over time.

Financial Year	1992/3	1995/6	1996/7	1997/8
% return on expenditure	40	42	45	48

    The potential for the future is to place fewer demands on extracting direct     income from the visitor and to explore more long term commercial schemes,     such as bottled water or sponsorship, to achieve existing objectives.

    (For the purposes of this evaluation Grant Aid is not considered to be Income).

    A specimen spreadsheet for the 1997/8 Finanacial Year is outlined on the     following two pages.

Management Issues

    A decline in real terms of the free money within the budget.

    Overt commerciality at the expense of other service objectives.

    Business Plan

    See Appendix 1.

3.9    Confirmation of Qualifying Features

    Habitats and Species

    1    Calcareous Grasslands, there extent and communities

    2    Yew Woodlands

    3    Scrub communities

    4    Semi-natural woodlands, their extent and communities

    5    Populations of nationally rare and scarce lower plants

    6    Assemblage of invertebrates

    7    Ex-improved pastures

    8    Chalk heath

    9    Duke of Burgundy butterfly

    10    Silver Spotted Skipper butterfly

    11    Chalkhill Blue butterfly

    12    Potential for heather restoration

    13    Bio-diversity action plan species

    14    Conifer plantation (Oxenbourne Down)

15    Barrows/tumuli Butser

    16    Cross dykes

    17    Little Butser cross dykes

    18    Track ways Birdcage

    19    Lynchet banks lower slopes Butser

20    Forest Archaeology sites

21  Roman Villa

    22    Chalk Grasslands (Forest)

    23    Forest Clearings

    24    Chalkpit Field

    25    Forest Rides

    26    Forest Compartments

    27    Key Forest Species

28    Water Features

29  Advanced Mountain Bike Trail

30  Novice Mountian Bike Trail

31  Link Trail To Gravel Hill

32  Short Woodland Trail

33  Long Woodland Trail

34  Butser Trail

35  Wayfaring Course

36  Juniper Play Trail

37  Family Barbeque Sites

38  40-Person Barbeque

39  120-Person Barbeque

40  Space Trail

41  Visitor Centre

42  Car Parks

43  Aerial Activities

44. Horse Riding

45  Guided Walks

46  Events

47  Demonstrators