There is so much we would like to do.
You will have seen some of the work we are already doing, but we want to do more. We intend to cover a full range of wildlife surveys & studies. It’s vital that we understand our wildlife and the habitats they use and need. We intend to develop the habitat to support the full food chain.
Current Formal Surveys
- Birds: Monthly formal survey, same route, same duration
- Butterflies: weekly formal survey, same route, same duration
- Water Voles: Main survey time is April to June for the PTES national survey, but we need to do this all year to fully monitor our animals and understand their population and movements.
- Riverflies: Approx. 6 formal surveys per year, but this can be expanded to cover a full range of river life.
- Amphibians: Observations during the year are being formally recorded
Intending to do soon:-
- Bats: TBA but 2 to 3 surveys during the season, roost identification, new bat boxes
- Fish: no formal survey but recording quarterly information for the county recorder
- All Aquatic Invertebrates, seasonal surveys
- All Terrestrial Invertebrates, seasonal surveys, habitat improvements
- Dragonflies & Damselflies, seasonal surveys
- Flowering and/or Meadow Plants, includes orchids
- Trees, woodland management, new rare trees, community orchard
- Species food plants: eg Butterfly’s (caterpillars) often have a single food plant
- Molluscs, Snails, Slugs, terrestrial & aquatic
- Reptiles (No reptiles known on the reserves – but it would be great to find some!!)
Habitat Improvements:-
- Ponds: Maintenance, renovation and even new ponds
- Bat Boxes, roosts protection
- Fish: Some river flow improvements, Water vole food plants
- Invertebrates: More deadwood and variety of habitat, key food plants
- Hedgehogs: Habitat improvement and hibernation sites
- Trees, management, new species planting, fruiting tress & bushes
- And much much more..