Barlaston and Rough Close Common

Barlaston and Rough Close Common is a local nature reserve, an area of heathland in Staffordshire, England, near Barlaston and about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Stone.

Barlaston and Rough Close Common
The pool on the northern edge of the common
Location in Staffordshire
Locationnear Barlaston, Staffordshire
grid reference SJ 923 396
Coordinates52°57′15″N 2°6′56″W
Area20.6 hectares (51 acres)
Operated byStafford Borough Council
DesignationLocal nature reserve
Websitewww.staffordbc.gov.uk/barlaston-and-rough-close-common

Description

The area of the reserve is 20.6 hectares (51 acres). It is owned and managed by Stafford Borough Council; it was declared a local nature reserve (LNR) in 2000.[1]

There are two areas of lowland heath, divided by a minor road running north–south through the site. The western area, which comprises most of the reserve, is mainly marshy grassland, and purple moor grass and soft-rush grows here; there is a pool at the northern edge. The eastern area is dry grassland with heather such as bell heather and bilberry.[1]

The wet heath is managed, to prevent it becoming scrub and eventually woodland, by means of grazing from April until autumn by Red Poll cattle. This was first done in 2008. Monitoring of the heath has indicated that the regular grazing is effective.[1]

References
  1. "Barlaston and Rough Close Common" Stafford Borough Council. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
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