Butterflies, voles, bats and birds like a range of habitats spread over a large area. Rather than thinking about specific sites of rich wildlife across Easthall farm, we are now creating connecting networks of wildlife corridors. Connectivity starts with the special sites of rich biodiversity then creating links between them. Our latest project is a set of woodland corridors and hedges radiating from Hitch Wood.
With the help and enthusiasm of the St Paul’s Walden volunteers, we have just completed the latest part of the tree planting plan that encourages wildlife, large and small, to move between habitats. While conserving wildlife is vital in places like Hitch Wood with its rare Barbastelle bat colonies, we need to connect these individual valuable locations with other sites across Easthall Farm and the wider landscape. In this way we can create larger networks of habitats, supporting more biodiversity and greater abundance of nature, while still growing the food we need in surrounding fields.
Connectivity for wildlife also requires stepping stones between areas and so future work will be started to ensure there is a network of ponds across the farm, so water based wildlife never has too far to go between sites.
It has also been lots of fun working on these tree corridors with the St Pauls Walden volunteer group. Getting involved in tree planting is a great way to connect not just with the nature around us, but also with others in the community. The volunteers will be doing further valuable recording of the wildlife along these corridors throughout the year. So get in touch if you want to join in a butterfly count, or join a team looking after the trees and hedges just planted. Just as wildlife likes to be connected, our connection to nature (and our connection to other nature lovers) is also important.