SPIONKOPCEMETERY
NATURE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLAN
2004-2009
PREPARED BY H.BEAMAN
PUBLIC PROTECTION & HOUSING DIVISION
NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT
HARTLEPOOL BOROUGH COUNCIL
1.Site details
Name :SpionKopCemetery
Grid Reference:NZ512349
Local Planning Authority:Hartlepool Borough Council
Local Authority:Hartlepool Borough Council
Conservation status:Seeking Local Nature Reserve status
Nature of legal agreement: Freehold ownership by Hartlepool Borough Council
Access:Free access at all times
2.Site description
SpionKopCemetery is located approximately 2 miles to the North West of Hartlepool town centre, in an area of the town known as The Headland. It is situated on a cliff top, immediately adjacent to the North sea and is surrounded by rough grassland, with a disused cement works to the Northwest and low level industry and housing to the Southeast.
The cemetery, designed by the renowned architect John Dobson, was established in 1856 and is reported to hold approximately 26000 graves. Today it sees a very low rate of burial (with only approx. 12 burials in the past ten years , however it is not yet classified as a closed site and is still regularly visited by friends and family of the deceased, there is open access at all times. The site is currently owned and managed by Hartlepool Borough Council.
The cemetery lies in an extremely exposed position, with only the original brick perimeter wall offering any protection and shelter from the prevailing North Easterly winds.
The site is roughly rectangular in shape and has been divided with a grid of pathways of approximately two metres wide, running both horizontally and vertically (see Appendix). The access road and entrance, lie to the South west of the site, and whilst it has been gated in the past, these have been removed by vandals on several occasion and it was not felt to be worthwhile or economically viable to attempt to keep replacing them. At the entrance to the site there used to be a chapel and house, (see photographs in appendix) but this became unsafe and has since been demolished. The entrance area has been landscaped and regraded using imported spoil material, but it has been agreed that no further deposits of imported material will be allowed as this may prove to be detrimental to the floral diversity of the site.
In recent years this relatively isolated cemetery has been subject to a lot of flytipping, graffiti and attracted anti-social behaviour, including the regular passage of motorbikes through the site onto the beach. It is hoped that by raising the profile of the site and by improving education and understanding of it’s importance that the problems may be alleviated.
The majority of the site has a dry, alkaline, nutrient-poor, sandy soil with low humus content. This has led to the development of a coastal grassland vegetation that is unique in Hartlepool, and uncommon over the TeesValley area. Notable flowers include Thrift (Armeria maritime), Pyramid Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) and Lesser Meadow Rue (Thalictrum minus). The natural sward is relatively low , up to about 30cm, and is characterised by fine-leaved grasses.
The site is also important for insects and birds and Skylarks breed on the site (this is a National Biodiversity Action Plan Species). A plant list and preliminary records for animals and birds are shown in the Appendix)
In contrast, the prepared pathways have seen the introduction of clay-rich imported spoil material of a very different structure and nutrient content to that found naturally. This soil is more nutrient enriched than the natural soil and therefore supports an alien, less species diverse flora, comprising largely of tall, coarse grass species (see Appendix for list of species).
The cemetery in the past has been managed as amenity grassland, cut to lawn, as is the general management regime for all Local Authority managed cemeteries in the borough. In 2003, following requests from the community and wildlife experts, it was decided to explore the natural potential of this site and the local authority gave permission to pilot the regime of cutting the vegetation only at the beginning and end of the growing seasons.
3. Reason for managing the site for nature conservation
Spion Kop cemetery has been identified as being of importance to the Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan and it’s development as a wildlife resource has been strongly supported by the Hartlepool Strategic Partnership.
A large amount of local public interest has arisen regarding the wildlife and the colourful history of this site and a constituted ‘Friends of Spion Kop Cemetary’ group has been created, with the purpose of preserving and enhancing the wildlife and historical wealth of the site.
The cemetery lies within St Hilda’s Ward, one of the areas of the town targeted for regeneration which has experienced major investment and improvements in recent years. There are two primary schools within ¼ mile of the site, St Helen’s which is currently the only school in Hartlepool to hold the Encams ‘Green Flag’ award for their environmental achievements and St Bega’s, an extremely active school, which undertakes many environmental projects and has adopted one of the local beaches as part of the Pride In Hartlepool ‘Adopt A Beach’ initiative. There is an extremely strong community network in existence and a particularly strong historical pride, this cohesion has lead to many successful initiatives within the area including the town’s Ecofestival which in 2003 attracted 15,000 people.
Following agreement from all parties, it has been decided that the site should be actively managed for wildlife and that it should apply to receive designated Local Nature Reserve Status. Many cemeteries throughout the country have LNR status, but this will be the first in Hartlepool.
A working group of officers from the Local Authority, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, local experts and representatives of the Friends of Spion Kop Cemetery has been set up in order to develop the management plan and to actively bid for grant funding to support the project.
4. Nature conservation objectives
To achieve designated Local Nature Reserve status
To maintain and enhance the species diversity and abundance of the site.
To prevent the establishment, spread and dominance of invasive species.
To provide an educational resource to local schools, colleges and the local community.
To support participation by the local community in caring for the site.
To attempt to decrease the incidence of abuse and anti-social behaviour through the development of improved security and public awareness.
Spion Kop cemetery has a great deal of historic and biological interest. The primary function of the site is as a burial area. All nature conservation management prescriptions take this primary function into consideration. The Public Protection and Housing division has the responsibility of managing the Cemetery at Spion Kop and all decisions will be made in accordance with the laws governing burial, cremation and exhumation (see references). The division is working in conjunction with the local community and wildlife experts in the development of a wildlife management plan, however all decisions and actions which affect the site will ultimately be the responsibility of the division .
TABLE 1 : MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
To be read in conjunction with target notes and maps.
PPHPublic Protection and Housing, Hartlepool Borough Council
CSCountryside Service, Hartlepool Borough Council
ESEnvironmental Services (Horticulture), Hartlepool Borough Council
FOSK Friends Of SpionKopCemetery
TVWT TeesValley Wildlife Trust
MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY / DESIRED OUTCOME / DATE / BY WHOM / Additional Cost1. Grassland Management activities.
1.1To set up a regime of non-intervention/ post-flowering cutting in the majority of the site. / To maintain and to increase species diversity and abundance.
To allow plants to flower and set seed. / Every Year / ES (Contractor) for cutting.
Local Nature Reserve officer to organise community volunteers for grasscutting and removal. / None
None
1.2 To maintain a regime of close cutting and strimming on pathways and immediately around graves (if required). / To attain a managed appearance, for access and to prevent the spread of dominant grass species from the nutrient –rich pathways / Every Year / ES (Contractor) for cutting.
Local Nature Reserve officer to organise community volunteers for strimming and grass removal. / None
None
1.3 To collect and remove the cut vegetation / To maintain the nutrient-poor status of the soil. / Every Year / Local Nature Reserve officer to organise volunteers. / None
1.4 To collect and propagate seedlings from the cemetery for transplanting in other areas of the cemetery / To increase the distribution and abundance of the vegetation cover and to re-colonise areas of the site which have seen landscaping works. / Collect seeds 2004
Plant out 2005 / TVWT
FOSK – in conjunction with the schools/local community. / Grants for seed propagation has been awarded from the Pride In Hartlepool initiative.
2. Survey and monitering
2.1 Annual bird survey / To provide base data to inform future conservation management / Continuous / CS
TVWT
Local volunteers/Hartlepool Natural History Society / Funding received from Pride In Hartlepool
2.2 Annual wildlife survey / To provide base data to inform future conservation management / Continuous / CS
TVWT
Local volunteers/Hartlepool Natural History Society / Funding received from Pride In Hartlepool
3.Environmental education, interpretation and understanding.
3.1 Apply for Local Nature Reserve status / To acknowledge the ecological importance of thesite. / 2004 / PPH
CS
TVWT / None
3.2 Provide an annual programme of public wildlife events and provide wildlife activities for community, schools and youth groups. / To increase use, enjoyment and understanding of site by local people, to develop a sense of ownership and aim to reduce the incidence of abuse of the site. / 4 public wildlife and historical events per year. / PPH
CS – Local Nature Reserve Officer
TVWT
FOSK
Local History group / Not known
3.3 Promote the use of the site by educational groups through school visits. / To provide opportunities for environmental education for local schools and colleges and to engage the younger members of the community in developing ownership for the site. / Involve the two local primary schools in the propagation of seedlings, identification of species and wildllife surveying.
Encourage the use of the site as a biological resource for GCSE and further education. / PPH
CS-Local Nature Reserve Officer
TVWT
FOSK / Grant funding gained from Pride In Hartlepool.
3.4 Provide wildlife activities for community and youth groups. / To increase use, enjoyment and understanding of site by local people / Involve at least 3 groups per year / PPH
CS- Local Nature Reserve officer
TVWT
FOSK / None
3.5 Community Arts project / To actively involve local people in interpreting and celebrating the wildlife and history of the site / By 2009 / PPH
HBC- landscape & Design
FOSK / Grant funding to be sought including the Local Heritage initiative
3.6 Development of website / To provide information to groups and general public / 2004 to link to the development of the Community Portal / PPH
FOSK / Potential project for Barclays sitesavers funding.
3.7 On site interpretation panels / To increase the understanding of the wildlife and historical value of the site and to explain how it is managed to encourage wildlife. / Temporary signs in place by Spring 2004 to be replaced by permenant interpretation boards / PPH
TVWT / Money allocated for this from Local Strategic partnership £250, from Pride In Hartlepool and from Barclays sitesavers
4.0 Access and Security.
4.1Improvement of gradient / To improve access to graves. / 2004-2009 / PPH
4.2 Repair and renewal of boundary wall / To improve security and safety. / Assessment to be carried out by historical experts and action plan developed based on advice by 2009 / PPH
4.3 Erection of gates/barrier / To prevent non-permitted vehicular access through the cemetery.. / Investigation into the most appropriate barrier method. / PPH
CS- Local Nature Reserve Officer / Grant funding required
4.4 Site entrance improvement / To improve access and security of site. / On going / PPH
FOSK
CS
TVWT / Grant funding granted from Barclays Sitesavers
4.5 Investigation into drainage problem at site entrance / To improve access through main gates / Investigation into current standing water problem by 2005 / PPH / Grant funding granted from Barclays Sitesavers
4.6 Warning signage erected / To deter flytipping and vandalism / 2004 / PPH in conjunction with the Enforcement team , HBC / Grant funding required
5. NATURE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS
The management Implementation Schedule (Table 1) provides a summary of all management prescriptions. The following target notes should be read in conjunction with this table and maps.
- Grassland Management
The cemetery was in the past managed as short lawn i.e. cut to approx. 25-75 mm on a fortnightly basis throughout the growing season.
In 2003 it was decided to pilot a regime of non- intervention, except for an initial cut at the beginning of the growing season.
This pilot proved to be extremely controversial with much public dissatisfaction with the appearance of the cemetery and an increase in the amount of flytipping and anti-social behaviour.
For this reason it has been decided to initiate a differential grass cutting regime within the site.
1.1Annual cutting of meadow areas
The majority of the cemetery will be maintained as meadow and will only be cut once a year following seeding, which will be generally be in September/October.
The cut of the meadow will be carried out on a staggered basis, over a four week period (see Plan) this will enable volunteers to collect and remove the vegetation to prevent nutrient enrichment which will be detrimental to maintaining the biodiversity of the site.
If possible the green waste produced will be composted at another location.
1.2Maintenance of graves
Longer coaser grass species have been found to colonise some of the areas immediately around the gravestones. This can be limiting to access to the graves and the dominant grasses may encroach into the meadow. For this reason regular inspection of the cemetery will be necessary throughout the growing season and the assistance of volunteers called upon to strim and remove long grass if it is thought necessary.
1.3Management of pathways
The nutrient enriched pathways give rise to long, dominant grass species which limit access and were thought to be detrimental to the overall appearance of the cemetery.
For this reason it was agreed that the pathways should present a closely cut , manicured appearance in order to demonstrate that there is active management of the site and to prevent any access difficulties.
The pathways running horizontally and vertically across the site will receive a regular close cut (approximately every 14 days) to a level of 25-75mm throughout the whole of the growing season.
1.4Meadow wildflower planting
Seeds will be collected from the meadow each year and seedlings propagated in order to replant or repair areas which may have seen landscaping or to encourage spread onto the pathways where the longer, alien grass species have become dominant.
- Surveying and Monitoring
One of the purposes of protecting this site and for trying to get it designated as a Local Nature Reserve is so that it may provide opportunities for local research and scientific study. Survey data can also provide valuable information for conservation management plans and help to evaluate management practices.
2.1Monitoring of birds
To date no comprehensive, on-going, population data has been collected on Spion Kop Cemetery but local ornithologist have reported seeing many important species including curlews and skylarks It is proposed that surveys will be commissioned, commencing in 2004 using funding from Pride In Hartlepool.
2.2 Monitoring of wildlife
A recent species list of native plants exists for this site (see appendix ) but again it is proposed that a comprehensive survey of flora and fauna will be undertaken in 2004 to provide baseline data. This survey will be undertaken using funds from Pride In Hartlepool.
3.ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, INTERPRETATION AND UNDERSTANDING
Spion Kop cemetery provides a quiet, relatively isolated and undisturbed place for local wildlife and consequently has developed into a rich and valuable resource.
It is hoped by actively managing the site as a Local Nature Reserve it will become viewed as a community resource and the problems that have long blighted this site such as flytipping, graffiti and unsociable behaviour will diminish.
There is already a strong working group of local authority officers, professional ecologists and a very active ‘Friends Of’ group who are working to develop the site and provide opportunities and activities to engage and interest of the whole community so that it’s significance can be translated to maximum effect.
3.1 Application for Local Nature Reserve Status
It has been agreed by the Public Protection and Housing Division to work in conjunction with the Countryside Section in applying to attain designation of the site as a Local Nature Reserve. This process will commence in 2004.
3.2 Provision of an annual programme of public wildlife events and activities.
The local FOSK, Nature Reserve officer, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and local historians will organise a programme of public wildlife and history events including a comprehensive programme of tailor-made activities to specific youth and community groups including the targeting of socially excluded groups.
.
3.3 Promotion of cemetery as an education resource
The development and improved interpretation of this site as a designated wildlife site will inevitably make it more accessible and useful as an educational resource to local educational establishments. In addition to this promotional material, will be distributed to relevant school departments and support given to teacher requiring assistance.
3.4 Community Arts Project
It is hoped to involve the community in the development of an arts project at the site, suggestions for the nature of this project have at present centred around the creation of some wrought iron railing/gates at the entrance of the site which will be designed to incorporate the wildlife and history of the site, permission will be sought from Cabinet to undertake these alterations.