Archived News

24th January 2013

As a snow blizzard drove westward across the fields yesterday, wildlife tucked itself away in the hedgerows, woodland and undergrowth around the farm for shelter and protection from the bitter wind.  Fallen snow provides the tell-tale signs and tracks of earlier foraging along the hedgerows and field margins.

Maize and a mixed native hedgerow provide shelter above

A holly hedge alongside a woodland provides shelter and a buffer from the wind; all the berries have long since been eaten

Protection beneath the hedge as seen from the north

On the south of the hedge; an extended field margin encourages natural ground cover and provides habitat and protection for invertebrates, birds and mammals.

An area planted with a wild flower and grass mix, links the hedge above with a mixed native hedge we previously laid (see below),  providing a surprisingly complex habitat with its blend of different heights, in which flora and fauna make their home.

Standard Oak trees, Hazel coppice, hedgerows and rough grassy areas provide a mosaic of habitats for owls and the small mammals on which they feed.

We manage these interlinking and varied habitatsthroughout the farm to create and maintain wildlife corridors along and in which birds, insects and mammals can travel in safety.  These wildlife habitats are invaluable as a food source and provide shelter and protection from extreme temperatures in both winter and summer.

This Blackthorn hedge was bobbing with flocks of finches a couple of days ago, I'm sure they're waiting for brighter skies (so is my camera) and next week's thaw to bring easier access to insects and grubs.

Male Chaffinch fluffed up to preserve heat

The last word goes to the Hampshire Down sheep with their teddy bear faces covered in snow; they do persist in searching for grass even though they've been fed!