Yes the Greenaway family (great name for the job!) used to burn it once a year and take out any growing shrubs and fill in any rabbit holes.
Older locals remember the hill being all black after burning and used to call it a Xmas pudding.
Unfortunatley Nigel EH daoesn't have the insurance to allow people onto the hill to clear it!
How they plan on letting sheep on while keeping Rabbits off is beyond me.
Maybe they think the rabbits won't use the sheep gate if they put a little sign up?
PeteG