Hurston bog in the winter
BACKGROUND TO ACQUISITION
The new Hurston Reserve is land formerly owned by Mr John and Mrs Kate Glazier and adjoins their property of Hurston Warren. Kate and John, following in the footsteps of John’s godmother Marion ‘Meg’ Gardner, have carefully tended the land to encourage the conservation of acid grassland and heath as well as both dry and wet woodland; the latter including an area of bog fed by underground seepage from the heath of Hurston Warren. The northern part of the reserve is part of the larger Hurston Warren SSSI. See link to SSSI citation above.
Kate and John were determined that their efforts to conserve the area should carry on, even though they were becoming less and less able to do so themselves. They were looking for an organisation with local interest, run knowledgeably and efficiently and with the financial backing to offer a secure, long-term commitment. The Murray Downland Trust met all of these requirements and the land was gifted during 2023.
The new Hurston Reserve is land formerly owned by Mr John and Mrs Kate Glazier and adjoins their property of Hurston Warren. Kate and John, following in the footsteps of John’s godmother Marion ‘Meg’ Gardner, have carefully tended the land to encourage the conservation of acid grassland and heath as well as both dry and wet woodland; the latter including an area of bog fed by underground seepage from the heath of Hurston Warren. The northern part of the reserve is part of the larger Hurston Warren SSSI. See link to SSSI citation above.
Kate and John were determined that their efforts to conserve the area should carry on, even though they were becoming less and less able to do so themselves. They were looking for an organisation with local interest, run knowledgeably and efficiently and with the financial backing to offer a secure, long-term commitment. The Murray Downland Trust met all of these requirements and the land was gifted during 2023.
Gryllus campestris
PUBLIC ACCESS
There is no public right of access on any part of the reserve and access must be organised, on a visit by visit basis. Contact should be via the Trust website page in the first instance.
MANAGEMENT
In addition to the inevitable ongoing maintenance needs, including restriction of bracken by appropriate mowing, the Trust is promoting specialist surveys in order to inform our ongoing management — as we do for our other reserves too. We already know of a small number of significant invertebrates, including the Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris) and the Cranefly (Nephrotoma sullingtonensis).
The Field Cricket is restricted to a small area bounded by the rivers Arun in the east, Rother and Wey in the North and Solent in the west. It lives in open grassland and heath, where the vegetation does not get tall. Rabbit grazing is useful for this species but, again, you can have too much!
There is no public right of access on any part of the reserve and access must be organised, on a visit by visit basis. Contact should be via the Trust website page in the first instance.
MANAGEMENT
In addition to the inevitable ongoing maintenance needs, including restriction of bracken by appropriate mowing, the Trust is promoting specialist surveys in order to inform our ongoing management — as we do for our other reserves too. We already know of a small number of significant invertebrates, including the Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris) and the Cranefly (Nephrotoma sullingtonensis).
The Field Cricket is restricted to a small area bounded by the rivers Arun in the east, Rother and Wey in the North and Solent in the west. It lives in open grassland and heath, where the vegetation does not get tall. Rabbit grazing is useful for this species but, again, you can have too much!
 Hurston grasslands
(The acid grasslands show what can happen to former agricultural land if all input of fertiliser is ceased — especially on light sandy soils. These were cleared of bracken and even ploughed in the 1960s as part of an unsuccessful attempt to run a small cattle feed business. Since then rabbits have been the major grazing influence — perhaps even too successfully.
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 Nephratoma sullingtonensis
The longest-established heather heathland on the steep bank beside the bog produced an exciting surprise in 2023 in the shape of a very rare cranefly (Nephratoma sullingtonensis) - after nearby Sullington where it was first found, new to science, in 1936. It was re-found in the same general area in 1985, but not seen again until 2023 when it was found both at Hurston Reserve and nearby Wiggonholt Common. It was plentiful at Hurston again in 2024. This cranefly seems to be associated with hot, dry over-mature heath and we must be careful to keep a good representation of this on the reserve.
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There are several well-grown Oak with wide crowns within the grassland. Such trees are important for a range of rotting heart-wood associated insects. Surveying for these requires specific techniques, which we will be using.
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Potentilla argentata
(Photo: Paul Glazier)
Rabbit grazing has allowed a good range of early spring-flowering plants to become common in the grassland. Probably the most significant of these is Hoary Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentata).
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The bog is also a largely unknown entity, as is the surrounding wet woodland. Getting some light into the area through careful reduction of tree cover — quite demanding in such conditions — is likely to be an early aim, but not until we understand what plants and animals are already present and what they need.
Donacia marginata
The underwater larvae of reed beetles, such as this Donacia marginata, live on the roots of their foodplants. They have an unusual way of getting oxygen; the mandibles are hollow and they use these to 'plug in' to the internal 'veins' of the roots.