ABUNDANCE IS INCREASING
at Haugh Farm……
Biodiversity Project
New farm land use
- Species rich wild flower meadow in the place of clover rich pasture,
- Wild scrub on a quarter of the land,
- Stopping chemicals, pesticides, fertiliser, muck spreading,
- Next steps pond mosaic & tradition orchard extension & roaming existing herbivores
(Sussex cows, ponies & pigs )
What have Georgie and Tom Done to Change the Farm?
Rewilding the Meadow
THE BIRD FOOD FARM …..
Where have all the birds gone, our skies were once teaming with birds, alas, no longer, we must do what we can because soon they will be gone forever… memories of flocks of starlings only found within dusty libraries or historic images on the net…. is that what we want…?
Here we are taking a Step in the right direction… no pesticides …..
… insects and seeds feed the birds and the best way to create these is to improve ….
BIODIVERSITY
… in the future we hope to team up with organisations that protect birds on their incredible journeys worldwide… until then we can do our bit here in the UK.
Meet the Team
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH by The Nature Guardians AMAZING TEAM In 2019 We did baseline surveys in…
1.Invertebrates by David Gibbs
2.Moths by Elisabeth Allen
3.Carbon in the soil – Soil Association scheme
4.Birds by Eve Tidwell
5.Mammals by Robyn Owens
6.Flora by Dave Green
7.Farmers – Alex and Max Rawlings
Elisabeth Allen
Moth expert, regular scientific survey and identification, data for moth population analysis
Robyn Owens
Project Manager Species Reintroduction Project Natural England & committee member for Wiltshire Mammal Group
Dave Gibbs
Invertebrate monitoring surveyor Haugh Farm
Eve Tigwewll
Consultant Ornithologist & BTO Regional Representative for Somerset
Dave Green
Consultant Ecologist , Field botanist and naturalist
Richard Mann
Butterfly reorder, biodiversity pioneer, nature volunteer, local councilor
BIODIVERSITY, ABUNDANCE & CARBON CAPTURE RESEARCH PROJECT
MISSON STATEMENT 2018
We aim to increase biodiversity at Haugh Farm, record baseline data for invertebrates, flora, birds, moths, butterflies, mammals. Record carbon levels in the soil in different areas that are changed from intensive grazing of cattle with chemicals and muck to wild areas, species rich meadow land and orchards with control samples taken in fields not protected from chemicals muck and intensive grazing. See map.
Use the data to persuade companies to invest as an offsetting scheme with more to it that the Defra/EU scheme ie education and therapeutic horsemanship and links with wildlife trust care farms; helping children struggling at school due to anxiety, autism, other specific situations, often very intelligent children who can see the environmental needs and benefit from nature a great deal.
Haugh Farm is a blue print project for further biodiversity improvement schemes that we hope to use as a biodiversity credit opportunity for companies. It has the additional valuable education, wellbeing and improved data collection and stewardship that will be found nowhere else.
METHODS
Regenerating areas:
1. Species rich grassland meadows
2. Traditional orchards
3. Successional habitats & scrub mosaic
4. Pond mosaic
5. Grassland restoration towards species rich meadow
Specialists have carried out professional baseline surveys and ongoing surveys in
1. Invertebrate
2. Bird
3. Flora
4. Moth
5. Butterfly
6. Mammals
PREDICTION... Abundance
The biodiversity and abundance will increase exponentially, this will be reflected in the increasing variety of species. In 10 years the fences will no longer be required as the wild areas will have developed.
CARBON SOIL DATA COLLECTION
Soil association and carbon assets for soil health scheme, & Fab Farmers We are collaborating with the soil association
INVERTEBRATES BY DAVID GIBBS
David Gibbs baseline survey of invertebrates was completed in 2021. David Gibbs is a very experienced and well published scientist. He used sweep nets and water traps. Please refer to his method and results.
He is particularly able to use his experience and innate taxonomic understanding to identify species for example when sweep netting that are conservationally relevant. His results will show an increase in species diversity and reflect an increase in biomass quality.
The data is preferable to trapping and killing vaste numbers of common insects and with his experience we show the change in biodiversity with relevance to the development and regeneration of healthier more robust habitat and ecosystems. The increased biodiversity can be extrapolated from the increased number of species.
BIRD SURVEYS BY EVE TIGWELL & NICK ADAMS
This will reflect an increased biomass in breeding birds as fledglings are more likely to survive both due to the increased insects, ‘bird food’ and hedgerows, foliage, and thickets developing, Again the increased biodiversity can be extrapolated from the increased number of species.
An increase in biomass alone can be deceptive as may reflect a monoculture. The work we are doing here is about improving the quality of the biomass. Eve’s experienced observations and survey work will prove the positive impact the changes we have made to Haugh Farm.
The birdlife will also be affected by worldwide factors out of control ie migrating birds; habitat loss, human intervention, weather elsewhere on their journeys.
MAMMALS
The following mammal detailed survey’s have been carried out and we are now planning reintroduction of dormice and other endangered or missing keystone or other species. Habitat is improving here every day. We have enjoyed hosting lots of walks and training for groups surveying and protecting hazel dormice and other species. We love working alongside Wiltshire Mammal group.
1. Hazel dormouse 45 tubes,
2. Harvest mouse 2 surveys and 2 training days,
3. Hedgehog survey – 10 tunnels
4. Stoat video and dead baby,
5. Badgers using the land and lots of sets in the woods and videos of 3,
6. Healthy hare population.
7. Reintroductions of Hazel dormice and hedgehog tunnels planned for the future
DISCUSSIONS & IMPROVEMENTS
Deer, protect oak saplings
Bats
FAUNA
Dave has a wealth of information and is the expert on all things plants. We are extremely fortunate that he has been monitoring and recording the flora to assess the changes in biodiversity due to improved land use as described.
The bee orchid taken at Haugh Farm, wild asparagus dating back from Roman times.
POND MOSAIC
To optimise the biodiversity we need to build a series of ponds 5 x 10m whereby providing all the necessary habitats.
Pond location date may 7 2024