Habitat Management and Enhancement

Pasture House

Our office at Pasture House is set within 16 acres of lowland farmland which was intensively managed for dairy cattle until 2004. Over the past six years a varied management strategy has been implemented, ultimately aiming to provide a demonstration site for innovative techniques for the conservation of biodiversity. Projects include:

• Trials of bat roost creation techniques in traditional and modern agricultural buildings.
• Development of a cost-effective bespoke bat barn for Natterer's and brown long-eared bats with detailed environmental monitoring. The lower floor is designed to encourage nesting swallow and light-sampling bats.
• Monitoring of amphibian population changes as new ponds are created.
• 1000m of species-rich hedgerow on various substrates and with different management regimes.
• Research into cost-effective species-rich grassland creation through seeding, plant plugs and natural regeneration.
• Phased pollarding to extend the life of inclosure period field trees.
• Assessment of changes in bat and bird populations as new hedgerows are created and bat and bird boxes provided.
• Trial of a novel technique of hedge bank/herpetofauna hibernation site creation.
• Propagation of woodland herb species.
• Development of a species-rich, cheap and light weight green roof system supporting over 10 native species per square metre.

Species present include four species of bat, badger, red squirrel, barn owl and a good range of farmland birds.