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Locals 'unplough' national wildlife site following gummer's reprieve

18 April 1997

PHOTOCALL
Locals 'unplough' national wildlife site
From 12 noon, Sunday 20 April 1997
Offham Down SSSI, near Offham, Lewes, East Sussex
The site is on the A275 north out of Lewes. Take right turn to Hamsey and park near Offham church. Walk south back down A275 for 50 yards to bridle path. Walk west up path to ploughed Downland.

This Sunday, scores of celebrating locals are expected to help 'unplough' a nationally important wildlife site on the South Downs. The site, which was partially ploughed to grow flax, was issued with an order by Environment Secretary John Gummer on Thursday banning further disturbance, following a storm of protest.

The issuing of the Nature Conservation Order prevents the farmer, Mr Harmer, from ploughing, fertilizing, tilling, sowing or seeding the site.

Around 15 hectares of Clayton to Offham escarpment Site of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI), was ploughed last week by the farmer to grow flax. This is because the Ministry of Agriculture will pay him up to 590 per hectare for the crop (known as the flax loophole) as opposed to 40 per hectare under the Government's Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme.

Chris Todd of Brighton and Hove FOE said:

"This has been a surreal week, highlighting both the county's bizarre agricultural policies, and the need to better protect our finest wildlife sites.'Unploughing' has proved very popular amongst locals visiting Offham Down and huge areas have already been repaired."
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