Ecology Update:
12/9/2016
This
season our bird nest box scheme was a success, with half of our boxes occupied
with either blue or great tits. This winter we aim to construct more boxes of
different styles to attract and record a wider range of bird species including
barn owls. I call upon all members who have an interest in birds or woodwork
that would be willing to build and donate us nest boxes for our scheme, it
would be a great help for preserving the wildlife on our beautiful site.
We
have recorded a wide range of wild flower species this year including our newly
seeded areas although the best is yet to come, with wild flower plots often
taking over 18 months to establish. We are in talks with local farming
contractors regarding cutting some of the long wild rough areas starting with
the academy as a trial. By cutting and collecting the long rough the nutrients
are removed that would normally return to the ground which in turn favours the
finer grass species and wild flowers, making the rough more playable, visually
appealing and ecologically sustainable.
This
winter we will continue with our scrub clearance when weather allows, restoring
areas to meadow species rich grassland and managed woodland. I call upon all
members that are interested in donating any wild flowers to our cause,
especially bluebells to plant in our cleared woodland areas.
Many
of you may have seen small logs with holes drilled into them dotted around the
course, these are bee hotels created for the solitary bee species to use to
reproduce. I have also utilised our dry stone walls by inserting dry hog weed
stems in them for the bees to use as nest sites. Many of our native bee species
are in decline, so small steps like this aid their vulnerable population.
Harvest mice are a species in decline due to habitat loss so this year we have
also erected harvest mice nesting pods made from old tennis balls, all records
will be forwarded on to the STRI.
