Devil’s Dyke.

As many of you will be aware the Devil’s Dyke is the raised bank that runs through Lavant, most clearly visible to the north of Great Elms, the new development of houses on what used to be the football pitch. The dyke dates back to the Iron Age and was possibly constructed as early as 100BC. It is marked on the Ordnance Survey maps of the area and parts of it can be traced from Boxgrove almost to West Stoke. The dyke is classified as a “Scheduled Ancient Monument”.

Until the 1960’s the monument was maintained by the local farmer and even grazed by livestock and at that time it was a grass covered bank with a post and rail fence running along the top of the bank. Over the ensuing years maintenance was reduced and trees, shrubs and bramble began to grow up along the length of the bank and the burrowing animals moved in. Once planning consent had been granted for the site the developer agreed to clear the monument and to fill in any disused animal burrows but unfortunately that task was not fully completed and the undergrowth and the rabbits took over once more. Following the completion of the Great Elms development the ownership of that part of the monument was passed to Lavant Parish Council and with it the responsibility for maintaining it.

Following advice from Historic England, the Lavant Volunteers have recently started to clear the monument down to ground level, leaving only the mature trees and any large dead timbers that might provide wildlife habitat. We are clearing the undergrowth but we are laying the larger cut branches along the northern edge as a dead hedge to act as a wildlife corridor.

The intention is to try to restore the monument to as near to its intended condition and to dissuade rabbits and badgers from making it their home. The animal damage that has been revealed is significant and while it may repair itself over time, there is the danger that the rabbits, foxes and badgers will return so we will be seeking qualified advice as to how to minimise the damage in future.

Tim Aldridge.

Chairman, Lavant Parish Council and member of the Lavant Volunteers.