some of our projects across the uk
Farmland rewilding project in Buckinghamshire
A site of 3.5 acres of existing grazing land designated to be transformed into a wildlife haven, with ecologically rich wildlife pond, amongst a wealth of other habitats - wildflower meadow, native woodland and hedgerows. Within an area of this size there is also a place for a productive organic heritage orchard and vegetable garden. All the elements would create a mosaic of wildlife habitats, well connected to the surrounding landscape with seasonal pony grazing keeping a large part of the site a dynamic mix of meadow and scrub moving forwards. Dozens of nest boxes have been installed, creating breeding opportunities for many species of birds including birds of prey like Tawny Owls and Kestrels.
Dry heath and bog pool creation in Warwickshire
Creation of lowland dry heath with sandy substrate, incorporating rock formations, deadwood habitat and heathland pool, with the addition of flowing water.
A south-facing plot, surrounded by extensive native tree and shrub planting, creating a sheltered environment with wildflower meadow within, lent itself to the design of this exciting and dynamic central feature with open planting of species typical of this scarce habitat, including Heather, Tormentil, Bell Heather and Wavy Hair-grass. The pond margins blend beautifully into the heath, with Cross-leaved Heath and Hare's-tail Cottongrass growing alongside Bogbean. Specialist solitary bee and wasp habitat has also been included throughout.
Wildlife pond and channel in Hertfordshire
Two very different species-rich wildlife ponds were created side by side, boosting biodiversity in this Hertfordshire garden. A larger, natural pond was designed and built with shallow margins, a beach for birds to drink and bathe, a deeper bay with stone bridge to create an interesting walk, as well as plenty of stone for amphibians to shelter in. Deadwood included in the pond margins provided habitat for Southern and Brown Hawker dragonflies to oviposit into. This larger pool sits adjacent to a smaller, narrow channel, ideal for young amphibians to develop in, with a beach at one end to provide safe and easy access into this transitional space. Diverse planting of both ponds includes Purple Loosestrife, Brooklime, Water Mint, Ragged Robin, Water Plantain and Cuckooflower, to name a few of the many native species included to create an exceptional natural space for people and wildlife.
Mixed habitat wildlife garden in Lincolnshire
An urban wildlife garden designed and created with a range of different habitats, including wildlife pond, wildflower meadow, native tree and shrub planting and a limestone bank (pictured right).
Free-draining limestone substrate was brought into the site to create an exciting south-facing feature, planted with a diverse mix of calcicoles, including Birdsfoot Trefoil, Common Rock-rose, Horseshoe Vetch, Kidney Vetch and Wild Marjoram. This part of the project provides a unique space for these fascinating communities of alkaline loving plants, and also physical habitat for many species of invertebrate associated with them, such as the Common Blue Butterfly and Six-spot Burnet Moth, amongst others.
Woodland glade pond in Lancashire
Species-rich natural pond creation undertaken in a 3 acre mature wildlife garden in Lancashire.
An area at the foot of a steep hill, where a strip of rough grassland was in the process of conversion to species-rich meadow, was the ideal catchment area to situate a natural, wild pond. With high annual rainfall ensuring a constant supply of freshwater, this clean and diverse waterbody provides excellent habitat for a range of odonata, including Azure and Large Red Damselfly, Common Darter, Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chaser. Beautiful aquatic plants also thrive, including Water Violet, Water forget-me-not and Lesser Pond Sedge.
Natural pond for herpetofauna in Buckinghamshire
A specialist shallow pool with marginal deadwood microhabitats, a dragonfly perch and wildflower margins blending gently into the rest of the wildlife garden.
With no freshwater habitat in the immediate area of several hectares, the design and consequent creation of a natural pool proved particularly valuable by providing high-quality habitat for Common Toad, Common Frog and Smooth Newt, further attracting Grass Snake to hunt in its waters. Emperor, Southern Hawker, Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies were quick to arrive, and from the first spring Azure and Large Red Damselfly also appeared, rapidly establishing key populations in this region of the Chilterns landscape.
Large pond restoration in Essex
Heavily silted pond restored to create a healthy, freshwater habitat.
An overgrown and polluted pond in Essex needed careful excavation so as not to damage the original clay lining. Many tons of silt and detritus were removed with expert precision, enabling the empty, re-profiled pond to fill cleanly with rainwater over the following months. The naturally occurring Flag Iris and Pendulous Sedge grew into dense bands of marginal cover, creating ideal nest sites for Moorhen and Mallard, which have subsequently bred on the pond. Excitingly, scarce Water Voles have now been recorded using the pond, migrating between the dense cover of the margins and the adjacent brook, several yards away. Many dragonfly species are also established and breeding annually.
Multi-tiered bat roost installation in London
An extensive bat roost installed on a large, open canopy tree in a private garden in London. After an initial assessment of the local area, to decide on the most appropriate location for a bat roost, five individual dual-chambered 'Kent style' bat boxes were built and then installed on a tall conifer tree. The garden is regularly visited at dusk through the warmer months of the year by Pipistrelle sp., which can be seen feeding on the rich invertebrate life present above this established wildlife garden. The tree now has ten individual cavities at differing heights, suitable for several common bat species, with varying roost preferences. There are very few suitable roost spaces for bats in this neighbourhood, with a lack of old trees, many having been felled in recent years. This tree now stands as a safe bat haven and stronghold in the area.
conservation projects abroad
White Stork nest platform design and installation
Artificial nest site creation for the White Stork on a nature reserve in northeast Poland, on a large brick and timber barn, typical of the local Warmia and Mazury district.
The nest was created and installed to resemble an existing nest, with many larger branches fixed onto the robust metal frame. The birds began roosting on and using the platform immediately. The large diameter of the nest allowed enough space for several developing chicks to practice wing flapping and stretching prior to fledging. The sturdy and well-preserved construction will provide a nest site for White Storks in the local area for many years to come, and also allow people an opportunity to observe these beautiful birds as they spend the summer raising a family.
Willow Tit nest box trial
A unique nest box scheme was designed and implemented to provide suitable nest sites for the Willow Tit and carried out with the aim to develop the most effective nest box design to suit these specialist birds.
Willow Tits excavate a nest chamber in soft deadwood, usually in the stump of a Willow, Birch, Alder or Elder. These birds generally breed in wet woodland and scrub, where there is an abundance of suitable habitat. Unfortunately, in many areas, with the degradation of the natural environment, natural nesting opportunities are diminishing fast. By trialling different nest box designs, within a couple of seasons we were able to establish which type of nest box these birds preferred, and the results can now be used to roll out projects in other parts of Europe, where these birds are in rapid decline (UK, Finland etc.).
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary conservation
An ongoing conservation project, studying the preferred amount of scrub cover, sward height and species composition of the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterfly (SPBF) habitat.
An area of species-rich grassland and scrub was surveyed for abundance of breeding SPBF, before a long-term conservation project was launched to increase suitable habitat for this species. The site was found to be declining in condition, however, through periodic grazing and other methods of vegetation management and enhancement, the habitat is now steadily improving. Transects are carried out in suitable weather to determine overall annual counts for SPBF, hoping for a steady increase in peak counts year on year.
Large Copper Butterfly habitat restoration
An immediate action was required to restore habitat for the Large Copper Butterfly on this site, with low numbers recorded during initial transects, coupled with a lack of suitable vegetation and larval foodplants (rumex sp.). The fragmented pockets of habitat were joined together, with selective grazing, to improve their condition. Early grazing/cutting of these plants allows strong regrowth, boosting larval development. Existing populations of rumex sp. were identified, and plants then monitored throughout the flight season for fresh eggs. Additionally, a dam and boardwalk were built to flood a small stream, creating a pool and marsh, into which Water Dock plants were transplanted, propagated and grown earlier from seed of local provenance. This will ensure the existing population of Large Copper Butterflies will increase, and hopefully in future years locally expand their range into suitable adjacent sites.
Eurasian Wryneck breeding study
Although the Eurasian Wryneck belongs to the woodpecker family, it does not excavate its own nest cavity, instead relying on existing holes in trees, often using other cavity nesting species' completed nests to lay its own egg clutch.
A range of nest boxes were designed, built and installed on trees in suitable habitat, where an abundance of anthills in sparsely vegetated and low grassy swards provided ideal breeding conditions for this migrant bird species. The project has been a great success, with Wryneck now an established breeding bird in this location. Continued study enables us to monitor where the birds feed, which boxes they prefer, nest hole aspect, etc. This data is also useful in assisting other projects across Europe in addressing the decline of this fascinating species.