One thing we’ve learned is that enhancing biodiversity is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s all about the quiet, consistent effort. Think spade and trowel rather than heavy machinery. The real beneficiaries—the moles, mice, snails, and trees—notice these small changes, even if it takes time for the results to be visible to us.
Speaking of heavy machinery, the tractor-cutting for hay currently happening around us is a real setback for wildlife. It leaves behind endless empty hectares, which is a catastrophe for the creatures that call this place home.
To date our observations have been erratic and unscientific.To better evaluate our techniques and demonstrate success we need metrics. To this end we have launched 2 initiatives,
Our first biodiversity survey - We developed a simple (but we believe effective) method that generates a quantitative score and that can be repeated. We will share the details of this in a future post
Using iNaturalist as a biodiversity log - This online database enables anyone to record observations within the project area and crowdsourced 3rd parties support the identification process.
Sustained Efforts: A Look at Our Survey Results
Today, we will focus on the results of our biodiversity survey. We have 14 parcels (Denoted by 3 letter codes), each with its own biodiversity score based on our in-house criteria.
Here’s an overview comparing the biodiversity score of each parcel against how long we have been managing that parcel.
These scores confirm what we suspected: maintaining or improving biodiversity requires sustained effort over time. Where we’ve put in consistent work, like in COF, we see steady progress. Intense short-term efforts, like those in PUF with its ponds and hotspots, yield faster biodiversity gains. But without much intervention, not much changes, as seen in CLI and MZF.
It’s also interesting to note the environmental factors at play. For example, PNF is colder and wetter than PUF, resulting in poorer tree germination and growth, and more deer losses. This leads us to focus more ranger efforts on the more successful PUF—success breeds success!
Highlights from Our Efforts
One of our pride and joys are the 25 Diversity Hotspots (DHS), which are just a year old and off to a great start. We’ve worked hard to establish wildflowers here, and while it’s still early days, we’re seeing some promising signs. However, maintaining these sites requires regular attention, like mowing by hand with a scythe and renewing woodpiles. Without active grass suppression, not much else can compete, including our beloved wildflowers.
We’ve found that black plastic sheeting is surprisingly effective for promoting biodiversity. It stops grass and encourages snakes and toads to thrive. Corrugated roof sheets also work well.
Observations from the Field
Some additional notes on the current state of biodiversity:
Insects: There are very few insects around—hardly any bees, wasps, butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, beetles, or moths. Even the house flies and mosquitoes are scarce. Grasshoppers are doing well in PUF, and we have stinging horseflies everywhere. The decline in insects raises questions about the impact on insectivores.
Reptiles: We have plenty of snakes and slowworms, but fewer lizards than last year. It’s possible that grass snakes might be eating the lizards.
Birds: Our bird raptors—owls, kestrels, and woodpeckers—indicate a healthy food web. We see several pheasants, but passerines (small perching birds) are relatively few.
Mammals: We have moles, mice, voles, and deer, with occasional squirrels. Hares and hedgehogs are very rare, and Arthur spotted a rabbit at VHV.
Amphibians: Amphibians are rare, with only occasional sightings of frogs and toads. This area used to be teeming with them when we first arrived in 1987.
Snails: There’s been a population explosion of small snails in PUF and PNF, coinciding with improving plant diversity in these areas.
Fish: Arthur saw baby fish and eels in the river, which is a positive sign for our aquatic ecosystems.
Conclusion: Measuring Success
Our takeaways from this recent introspection are,
Measuring biodiversity is inherently challenging—you often don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone!
Building back biodiversity requires time but also something more - Consistent effort and attention.
With the right mix of ingredients, we can recreate a thriving, diverse ecosystem that supports a wide range of species.
Until next time, stay wild!
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