Tadley Common is owned by the Turbary Allotment Charity and lies mostly within the Pamber Forest and Silchester Common Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is particularly important for its heathland and associated habitats such as acid grassland, mire, gorse and scrub. This type of environment supports many rare species of heathland plants, birds, reptiles and insects. Lowland heathland like Tadley Common is internationally rare and threatened, in fact Hampshire has 13% of the remaining heathland of this type in the world.

In support of international treaties and directives, the British Government is committed to conserving this type of heathland and the species it supports. They have brought in legislation which requires the Turbary Allotment Charity to conserve and enhance Tadley Common. The Charity works closely with Natural England to achieve the proper management of Tadley Common, with the aim of restoring and improving it as an area for the people of Tadley to use and enjoy.

The most environmentally friendly way of managing areas of heathland like Tadley Common is to use livestock. We have introduced two small herds of Dexters and periodically coppice the scrub and gorse where it is overgrown. This enables us to restore and enhance the heathland habitats on the Common. This benefits the wildlife and also means that the Common is a better area for recreation and education. Managing the Common by grazing also restores the traditional heathland landscape.

A fitness trail has been installed in the second field, there are 13 fitness stations made of laminated timber. At the start of the trail there is a circuit information board. The trail was financed through full grant funding from the Loddon & Eversley LEADER programme, which is funded by the EU and DEFRA. There are also 8 pieces of outdoor gym equipment in the field.

For more information contact the Clerk to the Trustees on 07881686351 or email nickibarry@hotmail.com

A map of the land owned by the Turbary Charity can found using this link: Turbary Land