Biodiversity plan

Overview Care for the Earth is the first permaculture ethic, which means designing and creating the provision for all life systems to continue and multiply, that is for soils, forests, wetland and more to regenerate. A major aspect of this is how we design for biodiversity, how we aim to support the thousands of species that benefit our gardens and exist for their own terms. At Brook End there are a number of practical measures we can take to enhance biodiversity on our land: Minimise disturbance - that is don't remove vegetation or perform earthworks unless absolutely necessary, intervention is a delicate design decision. Support hedgerow species with good mixed hedges, for example hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple, spindle, dogwood, alder, buckthorn and guelder rose. Create habitat e.g. boxes or plantings Support birds by planting edible species such as: silver birch, hazel, birdcherry, rowan, crab apple, dogwood, spindle, buckthorn and guelder rose Cultivate species for nest materials - holly, whitebeam, hawthorn, firethorn, cotoneasters, boston ivy, sunflowers, teasels, thistles, poppies, cornflowers, love in a mist, ivy Butterflies: Butterflies need plants for nectar and are best supported with native plants and species loved by them such as buddleia and nettles. Moths: Moths like pale coloured flowers with night scents. Species include nicotiana, honeysuckle, sweet williams, beauty-of-the-night, pussy willow Bees: Make bee hotels and plant forage as they are such important pollinators. Species include: borage, foxglove, globe thistle, helichrysum, knapweed, lungwort, marjoram, poppies, red clover, red deadnettle, teasel Biodiversity Goals Overall aim: increase the number of native species visiting and residing in the garden Re-design & restore pond & wetland area near field Re-design & restore the stream Plant diverse guilds of plants for increased ecosystem resilience Identify wildflower bulbs for woodland edge Increase number of bee & insect forage species into the design Thin woodland to increase light penetration Look at vertical edges to maxmise micro habitats Install bat, bird & hedgehog boxes Take part in surveys for conservation efforts & document our wildlife sitings For our purposes biodiversity means having a semi-wild but well-designed pallette of useful plants that will attract and sustain the helpful insects, birds and other animals we need. - Toby Hemenway

Vascular plants

Species Lists The following lists of species have been produced as part of the Somerset Priority Species List as part of the local biodiversity action plan. Its purpose is to identify those species within Somerset which are nationally or internationally important in biodiversity terms, populations that have reduced to levels of series concern, and/or which would achieve most for biodiversity conservation if targeted for local action. It is a useful tool to help recognise habitats that I can create at Brook End to support these species where possible. Recommended Practices from the Stock Free Organic Standards: 9.1 Growers should actively encourage wildlife and biodiversity on their registered holding. 9.4 Recommended practices on the field (a) Leaving an undisturbed field margin around all fields for wildlife conservation (b) Leaving strips of undisturbed vegetation across the field (c) Planting attractant species for beneficial insects e.g. phacelia and for birds e.g. teasel (d) Planting or encouraging indigenous flora of the area (e) Installation of bird and bat boxes and winter feeding stations for birds (f) Avoiding the disturbance of ground nesting birds when cultivating and mowing (g) Mowing from the centre of the field outwards so that unfledged birds and mammals can escape to the uncut refuges (h) Timing mowing operations to allow wildflower meadow grasses and flowers to set seed 9.5 Recommended practices for the promotion of permanent habitats on the registered holding (a) Allowing undisturbed areas for natural regeneration of wild plants (b) Maintaining traditional boundaries such as hedges, ditches and stone walls that act as important wildlife corridors. These will provide the refuge and hibernation facilities for beneficial vertebrate and invertebrate life (c) Reinstating hedges where appropriate (d) Practising agroforestry techniques e.g. alley cropping with rows of trees (e) Replanting indigenous shrubs and trees (f) Coppicing and other traditional management practices of existing woodland (g) Fencing newly planted trees against competing animals (h) Hedge trimming and ditch and dyke clearance between January and February (i) Clearing ditches in phased operations leaving a portion uncleared each year e.g. clearing opposite sides of ditches in successive years (j) Maintaining and creating water bodies for beneficial amphibians, reptiles and insects.

mammals

birds
Goshawk, Aquatic Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Skylark, Kingfisher, European White-fronted Goose, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Tree Pipit, Short-Eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Little Owl, Greater Scaup, Great Bittern, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Stone-curlew, Dunlin, Nightjar, Linnet, Ringed Plover, Black Tern, White Stork, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Montagu's Harrier. Hawfinch, Corn Crake, Common Cuckoo, Tundra Swan, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Egret, Cirl Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Merlin, Peregrine or Peregrine Falcon, Hobby, Black-throated Diver, Oystercatcher, Eurasian Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Herring Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Little Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Savi`s Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Wood Lark, Common Scoter, Goosander, Red Kite, Yellow Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Curlew, Bearded Tit, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, Red-necked Phalarope, Ruff, Chiffchaff, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Golden Plover, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Spotted Crake, Red-billed Chough, Bullfinch, Pied Avocet, Firecrest, Sand Martin, Whinchat, Woodcock, Arctic Skua, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Turtle Dove, Common Starling, Dartford Warbler, Common Shelduck, Wood Sandpiper, Common Redshan, Song Thrush, Ring Ouzel, Mistle Thrush Barn Owl, Lapwing

Reptiles & amphibians

Slow-worm, Grass Snake, Adder, Common Lizard, Common Toad, Great Crested Newt

Resources Jenny Hall & Ian Tolhurst, Growing Green www.somerc.com/local+bap+species+statements/ Somerset Wildlife Trust, www.somersetwidlife.org Collins, Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden Toby Hemenway, Gaias Garden Vegan Organic Network, Stock Free Organic Standards 2007

BROOK END
Nicole Vosper, Wild Heart Permaculture 2011