A des res for newts?

[Fauna]

Hi eeyore. This reen was put in place to compliment an older smaller reen/ditch/pond purley for wildlife in mind. These "ponds" now link into each other, you only get a small veiw of the older one here as it branches off in different directions, given it the name Herring Bone Pond. The area is at the northerly end of a resevoir that has extremely fluctuating water levels. You can just make out the res in the back ground. These ponds allow for the area to have constant stable water. I believe the plan is to try for water vole introduction in the future as well, though i'm not sure if this will happen though?




The new pond also stops most of the water from running off to quickly and keeps the fields wet. Which had a great positive influence on the flora as well, that year yeilded thousands of Adder's Tongue Fern. Surprisingly not seen in the meadows untill this reen was built.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Fauna

These ponds allow for the area to have constant stable water. I believe the plan is to try for water vole introduction in the future as well, though i'm not sure if this will happen though?

Looks quite good water vole habitat now, in this photo. Best of luck with the reintroduction if it happens. These little ditches are often teeming with wildlife, but only due to dedicated management.

[counterlady]

Originally Posted by animartco

lOOK at these dreadful pictures of bomb sites people. Haven't you got eyes? Can't you see the churned up tyre tracks in what was once a habitat for helpless little animals? Don't believe these so called wild life managers. They get payed for the work they do and that is the ONLY reason they do it.
And what is the end result? A little pile of nettles on a flat field. Only two plant species visible!
Reservess shoild be created and then LEFT ALONE, apart from a warden whose job it should be to ensure that THERE IS no disturbance.

I am certainly concerned regarding this type of comment as a novice to helping wildlife. I'm not an expert in any fields but WAB and the fabulous people on here have given me the insight to learn more and more. This thread has amazed and inspired me to doing something that I would never have dreamed about - building something for the wildlife from junk lying around. How can that ever be bad or relate to someones payslip!!! It has absolutely no relevance to what Deb London started.

I do not understand how animartco has become an officer of the wild empire because threads I have seen with animartcos comments all tend to be very negative. I would urge the administrators to leave this thread alone and close animartco.

I think the best thing to do is if animartco makes any more comments on this thread we all just ignore and do not respond otherwise we could lose the thread

Once again Deb London an absolutely awesome topic PLEASE keep it going.

[Mark_b]

Originally Posted by animartco

where they are 'managed' they look like the picture shown. DIRT TRACKS hundreds of square yards of churned mud

If you are talking about my photographs that area used to be a wild bore enclosure thats why its covered in mud and as pointed out by numerous other forumers it will all grow back very fast and will be worth it in the end.

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Also, I read an article somewhere about a hibernacular built for reptiles that could also be used as a bank to bask on in the summer, it had nice little plastic tubes leading in through the soild 'crust'. the lizards took to it immediately, however, they were not recorded using the tubes at all!! they must have found their own cracks and crevices ignoring man's carefully considered helping hand!!

I would actually advise not to put in any sort of entrances, it may lead to a less stable microclimate inside among other issues. Wildlife will find a way in.

Originally Posted by Deb London

Back on topic. Mark, your design has given me inspiration.

Excellcent news, good luck! I can't take all the credit, that habitat pile was constructed by South & West Wales Amphibian & Reptile Group (SWWARG).

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by counterlady

I am certainly concerned regarding this type of comment as a novice to helping wildlife. I'm not an expert in any fields but WAB and the fabulous people on here have given me the insight to learn more and more. This thread has amazed and inspired me to doing something that I would never have dreamed about - building something for the wildlife from junk lying around. How can that ever be bad or relate to someones payslip!!! It has absolutely no relevance to what Deb London started.

I do not understand how animartco has become an officer of the wild empire because threads I have seen with animartcos comments all tend to be very negative. I would urge the administrators to leave this thread alone and close animartco.

I think the best thing to do is if animartco makes any more comments on this thread we all just ignore and do not respond otherwise we could lose the thread

Once again Deb London an absolutely awesome topic PLEASE keep it going.

the "officer" thing is just a post count - you get officer at 500, commander at 1000, knight comander at 5000, and knight grand cross at 10,000 (we dont know what happens at twenty because no one has got there yet though glsammy is well on his way) - it doesnt imply any actual status or knowledge as 500 plus posts talking out of your fundament, count just the same as 500 expert and incisive postings

Beyond that I agree about ignoring trolls - but it is also important that factually incorrect info is corrected.

With regard to the hibernacula I agree there are some excellent designs on here - I'm sure that if someone gathered them up into a step by step how to document as a pdf we could get stu to add it to the reptile/amphib resource area.

[Farplace]

Originally Posted by animartco

lOOK at these dreadful pictures of bomb sites people. Haven't you got eyes? Can't you see the churned up tyre tracks in what was once a habitat for helpless little animals? Don't believe these so called wild life managers. They get payed for the work they do and that is the ONLY reason they do it.
And what is the end result? A little pile of nettles on a flat field. Only two plant species visible!
Reservess shoild be created and then LEFT ALONE, apart from a warden whose job it should be to ensure that THERE IS no disturbance.

Why are you so aggressive Animartco? Is it because you know you are wrong? Your comments will do more harm to wildlife than good. I do hope it hasn't put off newcomers to this site. We all should do more for wildlife, and the ideas on this thread are first class. My rescue centre will certainly be doing something along these lines this year.
Jan

[counterlady]

thanks eeyore I understand the status thing but what I was trying to say is if most of animartcos comments are negative then why be part of this site it is not what this site is about

Anyway enough said now let's get back to helping wildlife the best we can which is what I am on WAB for

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by counterlady

Anyway enough said now let's get back to helping wildlife the best we can which is what I am on WAB for

Quite

Back on the original topic there is more advice on building amphibian hibernacula here

The RSPB: Advice: Building a hibernaculum

Herefordshire Amphibian & Reptile Team (HART) (Toward the bottom of the page)

and this is interesting with regard to managing for reptiles and amphibs

http://www.herefordhart.org/download...Management.pdf

and theres an interesting bit here about building hibernation sites for slow worms

Ecological Contracting Project - Slow worm habitat enhancement

[Farplace]

There's a lot of good ideas there. Thank you Eeyore.
Jan

[Kayleigh]

I have a border that in the summer is covered by vegetation I could build a smallish one in there the area is undisturbed and is fenced off from the dog I did wonder if rats would take up residence in there if so would the newts be put off.
We have wood-mice too that might take a liking but the newts still use the backing tray I put down that the mice cache food under and dont seem put off.