Shoal Hill Common

Shoal Hill Common is a 180-acre (0.73 km²) site of woodland and lowland heath located in Staffordshire, England, U.K. within the Cannock Chase area of outstanding natural beauty about 1-mile (1.6 km) from Cannock town centre and 4 miles (6.4 km) from Penkridge^[1][2] It is a local nature reserve.^[3][4]

Shoal Hill Common
Location
Nearest Town:	Cannock (1 mile)
County:	Staffordshire
Country:	England, U.K.
Information
Size:	180 acres [73 Hectares]
Status:	Common
Established:	Historical, from at least from 1775 - stewardship scheme since 1991.
Awards:	Part of the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Administration
Administrative authority:	South Staffordshire District Council
Management:	Shoal Hill Common Joint Committee

Information

Shoal Hill Common has been managed by the Shoal Hill Common Joint Committee since 1991, their aim is to replace the traditional practices as far as is possible with other practices such as a programme of bracken, tree and scrub control and heather rejuvenation via rotational cutting to reinstate the open heathland at Shoal Hill Common which was recorded by William Yates in 1775. By doing this they hope to ensure both the survival of a landscape and valuable wildlife habitat which is in major decline, and a diverse number of plants and animals survive both today and for future generations of local people. The Stewardship Agreement with DEFRA shall continue the restoration works at least until 2011.^[1]

A number of rare plant, animal, bird and insect species can be found on the heathland including: butterflies (e.g. small heath and green hairstreak), grasshoppers, common lizards, Eurasian skylarks, and European stonechats.^[1]