Greenham Common
The name Greenham Common is instantly familiar to many thousands of people around
the world, evoking many responses, but the era of cruise missiles, women’s peace
camps and heated local dissent was just one phase in the Commons long history.
Greenham and Crookham heaths have long been 'common land' - areas of land open to
the general public on which people who have 'commoners rights' may graze their
animals, take gravel, cut turf and collect firewood. In 1941 the land was taken by the Air
Ministry to become an important military base, home to British squadrons and then the
American Air Force. From 1980 the site became a central focus for anti-nuclear
demonstrations as cruise missiles began to be stored here. During this period there was
no public access to most of the Common.
1n 1997 through a partnership of the Greenham Common Community Trust and the then
Newbury District Council (now West Berkshire Council) the open areas of the former
Greenham Airbase was acquired for public use and enjoyment. This area, owned by the
Council, is part of Greenham and Crookham Commons and is a nationally important Site
of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) containing rare and fragile heathland birds, plants
and animals. After decades of military occupation the Commons were officially
reopened for public use on the 8th of April 2000.
Now, the site is once more open to the public and is managed for wildlife and people by
West Berkshire Council with the cooperation and support of the Greenham and
Crookham Common Commission
For more information about the history of the Commons and the importance of this site
over past years, why not visit greenhamcommon.org.
Why are the Commons Important ?
Greenham and Crookham Commons, approximately 1200 acres make up the largest
area of lowland heathland in Berkshire. They also contain ancient woodlands, alder-lined
gullies, remnants of valley mire and sphagnum bogs, newly created ponds and wetlands
and acidic grassland rich in wildflowers. The site therefore offers an outstanding
opportunity for local people and visitors to enjoy a vast open area.
Already the site has been designated one of 'Special Scientific Interest' and is home to
many rare and endangered plants and animals.
In the future, with the right management, the Commons will become increasingly
important as other heathland habitat in other parts of the country continues to
degenerate in quality and decline in area.
The commons represent a resource to be used by all the residents of west Berkshire.
The unique nature of the Commons, their wildlife, history and cultural associations and
military use imposes a duty on the Council to restore, conserve, enhance and manage
the common whilst retaining their distinctive character.
Restoring and Maintaining Greenham and Crookham Commons.
Returning the airbase to nature will take time. Parts of the site were contaminated by
aviation fuel and the cement used for the runways, however over the years since the
commons were acquired by the Council the contamination as been almost completely
removed, using entry natural methods. Much of the contamination was left exposed to
the air and the natural actions of organisms in the gravel broke down the hydrocarbon
contaminates. Areas of open gravel now are being left to be naturally recolonised by
heathland species or given a helping hand by the scattering of mown heather cuttings
taken from the existing heathland.
It is important that every year steps are taken to stop the important habitats of the
Commons from being lost. On the heath and grassland, mowing and grazing are used
to keep down the growth of scrub which would eventually turn the heath into woodland.
Many of the special plants and animals living on the heath would not survive if it were
not for such management.
Managing the Commons
The Greenham and Crookham Commons Act 2002 and the Greenham and Crookham
Commons Commission.
The Act forms the basis for all future management of the Commons and seeks to involve
local people, commoners and representatives of user groups in management decisions.
The Act has the following purpose;
“to restore land at and in the vicinity of the Greenham and Crookham Commons as common land
open to the public; to make provision for the conservation of the natural beauty of that land; to
grant access over that land in perpetuity and to make provision with respect to that public access;
to restore and extend commoners rights over that land; to confer powers on the West Berkshire
District council and on that Commission with respect to that land; and for connected other
purposes”.
In order to oversee certain aspects of the management of the Common, the Act
constitutes the Greenham and Crookham Common Commission.
The
Commission, which comprises both elected and appointed Commissioners,
consists of 20 members. Appointments are made annually and commoner
elections take place every three years. Currently the Commission is working
hard to manage the conservation of the common and to restore commoner’s
rights. Over the last few years grazing animals have been reintroduced onto the
common and it is the Commissions intention to introduce British White cattle onto
the Commons. These animals are rare but well suited to the environment found
on the Common. The benefits are twofold; firstly the preservation of a rare
breed, and secondly the grazing actions of this breed will have help keep at bay
the regenerating trees and shrubs on the common, which in some areas threaten
to cover the rare heathland.
The Commission are also currently working with a ecological consultant to
produce a new management plan for the site to build upon the successes of the
current plan which was written in April 2000.
The Commission meets four times per year. Notification of meetings agendas
and minutes can be found on this page of the website. Meetings are open to the
public although you are asked to notify the Council of your attendance well in
advance of the meeting.