Telscombe Tye – Higher Level Stewardship Scheme

Ten years ago, the Town Council entered into an agreement under the Government’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme to manage Telscombe Tye. This placed certain obligations upon the Council to promote and encourage the growth on the Tye of certain types of wildflowers which are key chalk grassland indicators such as betony, bird’s-foot trefoil and many others.  In return the Council received an annual grant subject to regular inspection.  It was a requirement that the land was managed with rules including that the Tye was grazed lightly with sheep and/or cut to maintain areas of chalk grassland within the scrub.

As this HLS agreement is ending, the Town Council is now looking at developing its existing management plan which will not be subject to the limitations of the HLS which it has found difficult to fulfil.