Higher Level Stewardship

Following on from the success of participating in the Environmental Stewardship Scheme for the last ten years since 2013, New Milton Town Council has agreed a five-year extension from 1 September 2023, committing continuing support to maintaining important green spaces in the town.

Environmental Stewardship is a land management scheme, operated by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and the Town Council signed up to the Higher-Level Stewardship (HLS). This offers support for more complex types of management tailored to the local environment. The scheme aims to support important wildlife habitats, protecting and enhancing the landscape as well as emphasising the importance of public access and enjoyment.

Participating in the Environmental Stewardship scheme over the last ten years has seen improved land management at Ballard Water Meadow and Barton Common, both sites designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) that are also known nationally as Local Wildlife Sites.

Both sites are noted for being important examples of grassland and heathland habitats and have benefited from managed conservation grazing with New Forest ponies grazing at Barton Common and Dexter cattle grazing at Ballard Water Meadow.