Issue - meetings

One of the three main objectives of the current five-year Epsom and Walton Downs Habitat Management Plan (2023-2028) is to draw up a project plan to reintroduce grazing to Juniper Hill.

At the Conservators meeting held on 23rd June 2025, it was agreed to progress the project, using robust fencing and for an implementation plan to be brought to the January meeting.

One of the three main objectives of the current five-year Epsom and Walton Downs Habitat Management Plan (2023-2028) is to draw up a project plan to reintroduce grazing to Juniper Hill.

At the Conservators meeting held on 23rd June 2025, it was agreed to progress the project, using robust fencing and for an implementation plan to be brought to the January meeting.

The Conservators received the implementation plan.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Funding. The Senior Countryside Officer explained that there have been developments with funding the project. She raised that the project would get funding from Your Fund Surrey and the Downlands Trust.

b)            Additional Costs. A Member of the Conservators asked what the balance of costs is between going forward with the grazing project and the associated costs with implementing it or not proceeding with the project but having potentially higher costs longer term when it comes to managing the land. The Senior Countryside Officer explained that the grazing project will probably be more expensive at first, but the costs may balance in the future, and it will ultimately be a much better way of managing the rare habitat and land.

c)            Queries. A Member of the Conservators asked if the animals being referred to are sheep and if they will be checked daily. The Senior Countryside Officer confirmed that the animals would be sheep, and they would be checked daily by the countryside team, Downskeepers, or volunteers. A Member of Staff from the Downlands Partnership would check weekly on the sheep.

d)            Hiring Sheep. A Member of the Conservators asked why the sheep would be hired instead of purchased. The Senior Countryside Officer explained that owning a herd would not be as cost effective as we would only want grazing on the Downs for some months of the year. She explained that it would require much more resource and capacity to own sheep instead of hiring.

Following consideration, the Conservators unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Support the reintroduction of grazing to Juniper Hill, subject to securing external funding for initial infrastructure and nominate and authorise the Senior Countryside Officer, in conjunction with the Clerk of the Conservators to progress this initiative to completion.

(2)      Agree recommendations as set out in the Implementation Plan.

(3)      Agree the timetable as set out in the Implementation Plan.