Barlaston and Rough Close Common - Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. - Public Access Lands on Waymarking.com

Barlaston and Rough Close Common is located on the northern edge of Stafford Borough. It is a Registered Common, which is owned and managed by Stafford Borough Council. The site was declared as a Local Nature Reserve in 2000. 

'The site comprises of two areas of lowland heathland, which are divided by a minor road that runs approximately north-south through the site. 
The vegetation is relatively diverse, with distinct variations between the separate parts of the site.
Dry heath and dry acid grassland with locally abundant heather, bilberry and bell heather dominate the eastern section of the site.  The western part comprises mainly acidic marshy grassland, containing purple moor-grass, wavy hair grass, soft rush and heath rush, with patches of wet heath where cross-leaved heath is present. 
Areas of woodland and scrub fringe the site. On the northern edge of the common is a pool with open water and emergent vegetation.'
Source of information; (visit link)

Barlaston Common Grazing Project
For centuries, livestock grazing helped to maintain the character of some of our familiar landscapes, such as heathland.  On Barlaston and Rough Close Common Local Nature Reserve, the principal habitat is wet heathland.  Left unmanaged, wet heath becomes dominated by closely packed tussocks of grass and suffers from scrub invasion.  Eventually, this process will result in the loss of the heath as the habitat reverts to woodland.  Reinstatement of grazing should gradually reverse this situation.
In 2008 cattle were first welcomed on to the site. Red Poll, a hardy breed of cow, are present on the site every April until the autumn. 
A report about this was published in The Sentinel newspaper on 16th April 2017. (visit link)
(visit link)

Estimated size of the public land (in regional measurement standard: hectares, acres, kms, etc.): 20.61ha Is there a trail system?: No What points of interest are there?: Vistas, vegetation, woodland, wildlife, pond, public footpaths What activities are available?: hiking, fishing Hours of accessibility?: Open all the time List of known hazards (cliffs, snakes, poison plants, etc.): uneven surfaces, roots, muddy wet areas, pond Dogs Allowed?: Yes Is a permit/fee required?: No Please supply the website of the land if available: [Web Link] If there is a trail system, please describe length, terrain, etc.: Not listed If a permit/fee is required please describe in detail how to get one, how much, etc.: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Visitors are encouraged to supply a picture of either themselves or their GPS at the trailhead and/or signage of the public access lands - describe your experience there and what you saw - tell us why other folks should come visit!

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   01/31/2019 Alancache visited it