The characteristic appearance of the Malvern Hills and its surrounding countryside, including the low lying commons, is a central feature of the Malvern Hills AONB. Significant changes in the appearance of the landscape of the AONB and its central core are generally considered undesirable, yet changes are inevitable as agricultural land-use and social and economic pressures alter the patterns of life in the countryside. The Malvern Hills Conservators have the responsibility of conserving and enhancing the character and quality of the existing landscape (Management Principle No. III), which can only be achieved by management of the vegetation of their land and counteracting the undesirable trends identified through survey and monitoring. The most damaging trend at present is the development of scrub and woodland on the hills, and to a lesser extent on the low lying commons. This is consequent on the reduction in grazing animals on the Conservators' land.

Management Actions for Landscape Character

• Proposals for vegetation management which will counteract undesirable trends or changes in the landscape are given above (Sections 11 & 12).

• Ensure that the impact on landscape is assessed prior to the adoption of any large scale management intervention.

• Seek advice from the AONB Office where management interventions are likely to influence landscape features.

Stock Management Control

Part of the effort needed to combat the insidious and extremely deleterious spread of scrub and trees is to overcome the limitations on the use of fences for grazing management on the hills. The arguments to support this assertion are articulated in The ecology and nature conservation value of the land held by the Malvern Hills Conservators (Alma 1998b), in Agricultural Use and Woodland and Forestry Activities on the Land under the control of the Malvern Hills Conservators (Alma 1998c), and Issues and Proposed Actions for Vegetation Management in the Management Zones of Land Held by the Malvern Hills Conservators (Alma 1999), Davies (1994) and in English Nature's SSSI Site Management Statements. Any proposed actions are unlikely to be fully achieved in the short- or even medium-term and may even require a change in the Malvern Hills Acts of Parliament.

Management Actions for Stock Management:

• Develop an articulated policy on stock management which considers the use of devices such as temporary and permanent fences, cattle grids, traffic calming measures on roads, bye-laws for dog control, alternative grazing animals, purchase of adjacent in-bye land, employment of a shepherd.

Archaeological and Historic Sites

The most important threat to the Shire Ditch, British Camp/Herefordshire Beacon, the possible Burial Mounds and Pillow Mound is the impact of trampling pressure and consequent erosion of the soil. Invasion of the sites by scrub is also detrimental. This occurs because of their prominent positions on or near high points or the ridgelines of the hills. Some action has been taken to repair damage and prevent damage, in some places, by the construction of sealed footpaths, and to cut back scrub invasion and control the damaging burrowing of rabbits with ferrets. It is necessary for other archaeological and historic sites and features to be recorded by the Conservators.

Management Actions for Archaeological and Historic Sites

• Control of invading vegetation should follow the prescriptions outlined above (Sections 11 & 12).

• Protect the Scheduled Ancient Monuments from erosion damage by non-invasive means such as log barriers or piles of brash, as needed in the short term.

• In consultation with English Heritage and with Scheduled Monument Consent where necessary, carry out repairs and longer term measures to protect the earthworks.

• Investigate grant aided management agreements for carrying out repairs to Scheduled Ancient Monuments or investigating more beneficial management which may be available through English Heritage or through Countryside Stewardship.

• Consult with the Archaeological Officer of the relevant county to provide mapping and regular updates of the known archaeological sites within the area and to provide advice on future management.