Governance Structures, forms of constitution, committees and meetings, financial arrangements, staff and equipment will be described in the Malvern Hills Conservators' Business Plan (2001).

Present Management Prescriptions

The management of the land is guided by a management plan written in 1989 (Malvern Hills Conservators 1989). The implementation of the 1989 plan in relation to nature conservation policies was evaluated, in its greatest part, in a report entitled An evaluation of the Implementation of the 1989 Management Plan Nature Conservation Policies (Alma 1998a). The summary of this document is given below.

Evaluation of Existing Policies and their Implementation

Summary of the Evaluation of the Existing Policy and its Implementation through the 1989 Management Plan.

It is evident that the management of the Conservators' land has been successfully carried out and that the nature conservation and related objectives of the 1989 Management Plan have been met in general terms. There are three areas where the policies have not been implemented as planned. These are:

1. The increase in area of deciduous scrub and woodland on the hills is of concern (Zones 1, 2 and 3), except in areas where the spread has been checked where tractor access was possible and where some manual cutting and stump treatment has occurred. The area most obviously suffering from scrub and tree invasion is the Main Hills (Central) Zone, but the potential for rapid change is also very high on the Main Hills (North) Zone, where large numbers of tree seedlings are invading the open grasslands of the higher parts of the hills. This failure is of considerable concern and is causing significant and undesirable losses of the vegetation of open grassland of high nature conservation value.

2. In some localities the area of grass that has been mown has increased to counter the lack of grazing animals, for example, parts of the Main Hills where tractor access is possible and safe, and Sherrards Green. This is not an effective means of maintaining the nature conservation value of grasslands as species richness of the sward declines.

3. In other parts of the low-lying commons there has been a move from regular tractor mowing to a haymaking regime. The species richness of the swards will improve under a haymaking regime and this development is considered to be a positive improvement on the original policies.

1. Statements are often made about the spread of bracken and gorse, both on the hills and commons (e.g. Davies 1994, English Nature's Site Management Statements). It is not possible to counter the view that both have spread in some places, but a critical analysis of the distribution and changes over time of both species has never been carried out. It is evident from studies of aerial photographs and old postcards that the extent of both has varied. Overall the photographic evidence suggests that the area of the Main Hills covered by bracken has probably reduced overall and that the area covered by western gorse has not increased significantly, except in height of the bushes.

2. Some concern has been expressed about the spread of gorse, bramble and trees on parts of Castlemorton Common, particularly the area designated as a SSSI. However, the use of machinery on the Castlemorton Common SSSI, and other parts of the low-lying commons, is proving more effective in controlling gorse, bramble and tree invasion than the previous hand-cutting regime. In particular the cutting of rides through large patches of gorse with a flail mower has permitted cattle to penetrate to parts of the common denied to them previously. A more satisfactory management regime is producing a more satisfactory mosaic of habitat types on the low-lying commons.

3. It is apparent that there is a need to keep more detailed records of the distribution of vegetation types, woodland spread, the locality of rare species, occurrence of species, and management interventions. Major events which have a significant influence on vegetation changes, such as severe frosts, extreme droughts and cold, and fires, and the impact they have on the plants and animals, should also be carefully recorded.

Evaluation of Transport, Traffic and Access Policies

The 1989 Management Plan sought to maintain the existing parking areas without enlargement and to resist any extension to parking areas in the southern area of the hills. These policies were designed to contain the visitor pressure to levels which could be sustained without increasing erosion problems and damaging the tranquillity of the southern hills. It also sought improved parking fee collection in outlying areas and the monitoring of overnight parking, which is prohibited. These policies were successfully implemented.

Some signs and notice boards relating to parking and traffic regulations occur on Conservators' land. The 1989 Plan was concerned largely with sign function, design and maintenance, and did not deal with signing at sites other than parking areas. Nor did it deal with the use of sign boards to convey messages about traffic impact, public transport availability, traffic speed, cycle access other than prohibition signs, etc.

This plan presents the opportunity to express a wish for other agencies, such as local authorities, to undertake actions which support the Conservators' objectives. This is particularly important in that local authority transport and traffic policies will significantly influence the Conservators' abilities to manage environmental conservation, sustainable use of the Conservators' land, visitors and information. A number of policy gaps relating to traffic, transport and access issues are identified in this plan:

• The role of speed restrictions and traffic calming measures in improving the safety of grazing stock and visitors;

• The use of stock grids to contain grazing territories;

• Traffic congestion on and adjoining key sites;

• Promotion of bus and rail services and the provision of public transport information at key sites;

• The provision of information about the Conservators' function at railway stations and parking areas;

• The use of information boards at key access sites as a means of influencing traffic movement;

• The use of highway signing to influence visitor distribution and movement;

• The visual impact of transport signage and street furniture;

• The impact of traffic on the neighbours to the Conservators' land.