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 in our efforts to protect and encourage the wildlife on the Estate by keeping dogs on leads, sticking to the designated paths and taking all litter home with you.
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We have lots of ground nesting species currently on the Estate, therefore it is vital that dogs stay under control so as to not disturb or kill these animals.
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Thank you.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THIS AREA TO ENCOURAGE WILDLIFE
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.
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.
UNHARVESTED CEREAL HEADLAND
The Unharvested Cereal Headland encourages beneficial insects, therefore providing an important food source for chicks in the spring. The grain itself will then go on to provide winter food . The unharvested cereals also create a fantastic wintering habitat for insects and small mammals such as the harvest mouse. Unlike the rest of the cropped areas, Unharvested cereal Headlands do not receive applications of fertiliser, manure, pesticides or herbicides as these will have a detrimental impact on arable wildlife that we are trying to encourage.