Archived press release

New deal set to save toad haven

19 September 1997

One of the nation's most important toad sites, at the centre of a high profile conservation battle, is set to be saved following the intervention of Environment Minister, Michael Meacher.

Offham Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near Lewes in East Sussex is home to one of the most important populations of toads, frogs and newts in the country [1].It was threatened with being ploughed up by the same farmer who damaged Offham Down SSSI to grow flax during the General Election campaign [2].

Following a powerful campaign from local people, politicians and conservationists including Friends of the Earth, the Sussex Wildlife Trust, the Herpetological Conservation Trust and direct action campaigners who camped on the site, the local English Nature team proposed a new plan to save the site. Friends of the Earth has been told that Mr Meacher supports the plan and EN has been instructed to reach a new agreement with the farmer, Mr Justin Harmer, which will safeguard the threatened part of the site from being ploughed for at least three years [3].

The site will only fully be saved when a new management agreement is signed with Mr Harmer. However, conservationists are confident that a new deal can be struck.

Matt Phillips, Wildlife Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:

"The reprieve for Offham Marshes is good news for wildlife. Local people and conservationists united to oppose the threat to this site and campaigned furiously on its behalf. But will the lessons be learnt? Will there have to be uproar at each of the 300 SSSIs damaged every year before the politicians realise people want better legal protection for our best wild places?[4]

"There is something everyone can do to ensure that Offham Marshes is not one of the few sites that are adequately protected, that is to write to their MPs and demand better legal protection for wildlife."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Offham Marshes is situated at the bottom of the River Ouse valley. It is formed by marshes grazed by cattle and intersected by drainage ditches. The elements of most interest on the site are the ditches which feature a rich assemblage of amphibians such as Common toad, Common frog,Smooth newt and Palmate newt. English Nature describes Offham Marshes as "one of the best sites in the country" for the Common toad. Aquatic wildflowers present include Water violet and Arrowhead.The site also features the UK's largest beetle - the rare Great silver beetle and the scarce Hairy dragonfly.

[2] Both Tony Blair and Michael Meacher, now the Environment Minister, condemned the "crazy"ploughing at Offham Down which occurred during the General Election campaign, and pledged that a Labour Government would never allow such activities to happen. The site was eventually saved from further damage by a Nature Conservation Order imposed by the then Secretary of State John Gummer.

[3] English Nature has proposed a plan to investigate the reasons for fluctuating populations of Common toad on the site over the next three years. This plan will ensure the site is saved from the ploughing that would put its wildlife interest at risk. Conservationists are anxious that the new deal for the site must include positive management to ensure an appropriate grazing regime for the marshes and raised water levels in the ditches. Part of the Offham Marshes site east of the railway line was ploughed last Autumn to grow a crop of flax. The drains on this part of the site now appear to contain little special wildlife interest. It is understood that this part of the site will remain part of the SSSI, but will not be brought into the positive management programme to act as a control to compare with the western part of the site.

[4] According to official figures, every year between 200 and 300 SSSIs are lost or damaged in the UK. Friends of the Earth is campaigning to improve legal protection of wildlife. The Government has recently announced a review of wildlife protection legislation. However, there are concerns that this review will not result in new laws being introduced.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust