As part of our weekend volunteer workday programme, DPA Conservation Volunteers returned to High House Waste on Sunday the 1st of March. The weather was overcast, but this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the team, who set to work clearing invasive gorse from the mire and path close to the Oliver Sayer gate. Oliver Sayer was one of the twin sons of Lady Sylvia Sayer, and he shared his mother’s passion for defending Dartmoor. Oliver was Treasurer for the DPA from 1982, up until his death in 1994, and during his time in office he won a grant from the Countryside Commission for the association’s development. The Oliver Sayer gate on our land invites walkers and volunteers to pause for a moment and remember his legacy.
Tackling gorse at High House Waste is an ongoing job, as advice taken as part of our refreshed Land Management Plan states that gorse dominance should decrease at this site. It’s importance that gorse remains as part of an overall healthy habitat mosaic, as it offers food and shelter for small mammals and birds, but it should not obstruct paths or encroach into the mires.
Mires are a type of wetland peat bog characterized by waterlogged, acidic soils and unique plant communities. These wetlands are a cornerstone of Dartmoor’s ecology, being important habitats for rare and specialized species, including sphagnum mosses and the Keeled Skimmer dragonfly. Encroachment of gorse will, over time, alter the hydrology and structure of the mire, shading out lower growing species.
Workday Co-Ordinator Kate Wareham said: ‘A small but enthusiastic team braved the weather and made it to High House Waste. We spent our time at the small mire just north of the Oliver Sayer gate. The path from the Oliver Sayer Gate was cut with machines to remove gorse regrowth from previous cuts and we also made a start on the path at the north end of the mire. The team started to push the gorse back from the margin on the mire, plus they tackled a significant clump of gorse sitting in the mire. We had planned to call it a day after lunch but a small break in the weather persuaded us to stay a while during which we removed some isolated gorse bushes from start of the main Sayer-Collins path which also serves as a fire break. Regrowth near the Oliver Sayer gate was cut and gorse removed to widen the start of the “wall” path.’
Fire breaks are an essential part of land management on open moorland, where wildfires can spread quickly. Cutting away a swathe of gorse aims to stop any fire in its track, as combustible fuel (in the form of dry gorse and bracken) suddenly stops. If there were ever to be an uncontrolled fire at High House Waste, the network of firebreaks would hopefully mean that any damage was limited to one of these ‘blocks.’
The DPA encourage access to our land at High House Waste, and we hope the clearance of the path leading from the Oliver Sayer gate will offer visitors a warm welcome. Our volunteer team is always delighted to have more assistance and our Conservation Workdays are open to both DPA members and non members. A full list of upcoming opportunities can be found in our online diary.