FONTHILL ESTATE WILDLIFE
WHERE ARE YOU?
From this map you can see exactly where you are on the Fonthill Estate and which footpath you are using. Please help us maintain the excellent variety of wildlife we have here by keeping to the path that is labelled on this map. Dogs are very welcome but please keep them on leads and under control.
We would like to work together to protect the environment around us and allow this wonderful area to thrive.
Thank you.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENCOURAGE WILDLIFE IN THIS AREA
Find out below
FLOWER RICH MARGINS AND PLOTS
Flower rich margins or plots provide a hugely important habitat and foraging site for invertebrates such as bumble bees, butterflies and farmland birds like the yellowhammer. For pollinators such as the bumble bee, these margins supply a continuous source of vital nectar through from March until September. The Wildflower margins also play an important role in increasing the abundance of beneficial insects such as hoverflies. These feed on agricultural pests such as Aphids, therefore removing them and enhancing crop growth.
THE AUTUMN SOWN BUMBLE BIRD MIX
The Autumn sown bumble bird mix is created through a seed mix containing at least 6 flower species and 6 seed bearing crops, together they provides important food resources for farmland birds, such as tree sparrow and corn bunting. This mix also benefits a range of nectar feeding insects, including butterflies, solitary bees, hoverflies and bumblebees who use this mix as their key source of nectar from early to late summer.
WINTER BIRD FOOD
Winter Bird food provides an important food source for farmland birds by producing an abundant and available supply of small seeds during the autumn and winter months. During the summer insects such as bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies will use the flowers as a source of nectar. Once established, the Winter bird food, as shown in the second photo, will also provide a habitat and shelter for some of our ground nesting birds such as the Grey Partridge, Skylarks and Corn Buntings. These birds will then start feeding their chicks on the insects found in the Flower rich margins.