My little dream to help save wildlife

[The_Doctor]

Excuse me if I've put this in the wrong place.....

There are fields around my house (well technically I’m surrounded by fields). They are like 3 or 4 joined together and I routinely wander through them. It’s quiet and relaxing and I always find or see something when I explore down there. I was throwing sticks for my dog down the fields, which he loves when I suddenly realised something. A mile or two up the road, there are several holiday homes that have recently been built and apparently there are plans for more, closer to my house.

That’s when I got the idea of buying the fields and preserving them so that local animals could live within the perimeter in peace and so the landscape is not ruined by stupid holiday homes, I mean why call them holiday homes when majority of the people who own them live there 24/7….it just defeats the purpose of a holiday home…sorry, sorry I’m rambling where was I?

Oh yes another reason for protecting the area is because there are a lot of farmers around here, hence the fields…and they all seem to be so trigger happy. A friend of mine is a farmer and him and a few others at my school brag about going on hunts and shootings which really annoys me. I also regularly hear gunshots in the evenings and last year a bloody fox hunt had the cheek to parade past my house. I know there are some foxes living in the area I want to protect and whenever the fox hunting comes to call I want some place that at least gives them the chance to escape the bloodthirsty farmers.

Now I know this idea is not exactly bulletproof so I’d like opinions and constructive criticism about how to approach this. If it’d help I’ll try to post photographs of the area I’m talking about and list a few improvements I’d make to allow more wildlife to live there….oh hold on a minute I’ve got that list now…..:P



1) I'd replant some trees and plants local to the area which would provide more cover and homes for animals.

2) Demolish the old and stupid barbed wire fence surrounding the area. The fence has been overgrown in some areas and just looks terrible. Then I'd replace it with tall wooden fences for the majority of it. In those fences there would be holes, for animals such as foxes, hares and badgers to fit through, allowing access in and out of the protected area.

3) Where my garden meets the current barbed wire fence of the fields, I'd put a small gate, so I can get in easily for we nature wanders.

4) There is an old tin structure in the area that has fallen apart and ruining the view. So that should be removed.

5) Dotted around the area shall be some bird feeders and tables. Some bird houses would also fixed to other trees.

6) WWT Castle Epise (which I live a short cycle away from) are selling hedgehog houses as well so maybe get a few of them and place them around.

7) 1 or two small wooden hides, specifically located near bird feeders or in some open spaces.

8) I’d like to dig a large pond in one of the areas for the likes of frogs, toads, dragonflies etc. as well as a few more plants to decorate it

Also what would your thoughts be on putting a small herd of deer in? My niece (she’s 6 and also loves animals) suggested this. Now it would be a species that was originally from this area not some exotic evasive species. Please share your thoughts.

Then I told my cousin about it and he said if it turned out successful, then I could think of buying other areas and protecting them.

So what I’d like from the likes of you my fellow wildlife lovers is:

1) What you think of this idea
2) Tips on what I can do to help my little plan along
C) Constructive criticism
D…no wait 4) Any other similar stories

I’ll post pictures some time…..

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please reply lol

[Jason Green]

Morning Doctor, and welcome to WAB!

First off I'd check with your local wildlife trust, in case the area is home to something special locally - they'll know, and could have their eye on it too. Secondly, I imagine there are other people locally who may equally enjoy this spot - but you plan to buy it and seal it off with large fences. If you prevent others from visiting - they could easily object to your purchase plan and in the mean-time the area could get taken by the very people you think you're rescuing it from.

RE the Deer; how many acres of land is in question here?

You sound like a nice and caring person, I wish you a lot of luck in this plan - just give access provisions for other local users too, would be my request.

Keep us posted!

Take care,

Jason

[Dillybythesea]

I agree with Jason (well I always do) - but it sounds a great plan and a very constructive answer to an otherwise negative situation for you. Re point 1) I wonder if you know about this excellent site for promoting biodiversity - where you can pick the different insects or mammals, etc, that you'd like to encourage, and scroll down to the plants they need >
Buff-tailed bumble bee - Bombus terrestris - Natural England
Secondly, don't forget to take lots of notes and photos of how it is now, will you, in case you can get a wildlife magazine or similar interested in taking the story/ helping fund more activity.
And lastly, on the deer front, I do know that the wild deer around here roam for miles and miles, leaping all kinds of barriers in the process - and think they'd probably be unhappy/ endangered by dogs if contained in just a few fields - but in time would probably find your haven if it provides enough cover (so perhaps don't remove any trees/ scrub in the first place - just add to it?) Good luck - Dill

[artdemole]

Yes it is a great plan.Are the fields up for sale.Do they all belong to same farmer.Are there any conservation groups in area who could help.The hunters could have the same idea when they get wind of the plan.Could you get the site protected in some way.Sorry about the things I mentioned but this will take a long time to sort out.I wish you well with the plan.

[nigel_b]

Sounds like a dream plan.

I wouldn't introduce deer.

I'd investigate the cost of fencing.

Bird feeders are a double edged sword if you have a large area. You'll need to keep them filled which will be an almighty pain. Better to plant appropriate bushes and shrubs to provide a natural food supply.

[muldonach]

[quote=The_Doctor;625615]

1) I'd replant some trees and plants local to the area which would provide more cover and homes for animals.

2) Demolish the old and stupid barbed wire fence surrounding the area. The fence has been overgrown in some areas and just looks terrible. Then I'd replace it with tall wooden fences for the majority of it. In those fences there would be holes, for animals such as foxes, hares and badgers to fit through, allowing access in and out of the protected area.

Trees are always good in my book but before demolishing the barbed wire - what is on the other side of your proposed fence. If if is cattle then your wooden fence is likely to be pretty expensive to erect and maintain.

3)

Where my garden meets the current barbed wire fence of the fields, I'd put a small gate, so I can get in easily for we nature wanders.

4) There is an old tin structure in the area that has fallen apart and ruining the view. So that should be removed.

5) Dotted around the area shall be some bird feeders and tables. Some bird houses would also fixed to other trees.

6) WWT Castle Epise (which I live a short cycle away from) are selling hedgehog houses as well so maybe get a few of them and place them around.

7) 1 or two small wooden hides, specifically located near bird feeders or in some open spaces.

All fine

8)

I’d like to dig a large pond in one of the areas for the likes of frogs, toads, dragonflies etc. as well as a few more plants to decorate it

digging a pond is one thing - is there actually a feasible site for a self sustaining pond? I.e a natural water holding hollow - ponds are really temporary structures and need regular maintenance as a norm

Also what would your thoughts be on putting a small herd of deer in? My niece (she’s 6 and also loves animals) suggested this. Now it would be a species that was originally from this area not some exotic evasive species. Please share your thoughts.

A very seriously bad idea unless you want to be a deer farmer - have you costed the capital costs of the necessary fencing and are you ready to do the necessary culling / translocation / release? Deer need serious amounts of space for a natural life and the males can become aggressive and difficult to handle.

Then I told my cousin about it and he said if it turned out successful, then I could think of buying other areas and protecting them.

fine if you have the money

So what I’d like from the likes of you my fellow wildlife lovers is:

1) What you think of this idea
2) Tips on what I can do to help my little plan along
C) Constructive criticism
D…no wait 4) Any other similar stories

In principle all for it but go into it with your eyes open - if it is productive farmland it will be expensive to buy. Secondly what sort of size of area are you talking about and how do you propose to maintain it, left alone all farmland will revert to scrub in one form or another which is fine but makes it difficult to see much in the way of wildlife

Land almost inevitably needs maintenance of one form or another in the shape of repairing or replacing fences, cleaning drains etc

best of luck with your project

cheers
mac

[ForestPaul]

Originally Posted by muldonach

In principle all for it but go into it with your eyes open - if it is productive farmland it will be expensive to buy. Secondly what sort of size of area are you talking about and how do you propose to maintain it, left alone all farmland will revert to scrub in one form or another which is fine but makes it difficult to see much in the way of wildlife

Land almost inevitably needs maintenance of one form or another in the shape of repairing or replacing fences, cleaning drains etc

Wise words.

It's a beautiful dream Doc, but it won't be easy. It took me about 20 years to get into a position to do something similar (running a small hill farm in Wales).

Land management, whether for farming, conservation, or as in my case, a bit of both, is both hard work and complicated. As muldonach suggests, it's not just a case of leaving it alone and letting nature take it's course; you'll likely just end up with scrub, which will support a certain range of species, but not a huge variety. To create an environment that will support a wide range of wildlife and plants you need a range of habitat, from woodland to open pasture, with everything else in between. Remember that some plants and animals actually need grazed land to thrive. I'm always surprised by the range of plants we have on grassland that is regularly grazed by sheep and mown for hay - harebells, violets, speedwell, helleborines, whorled carroway etc. all grow in abundance despite the sheep.

Keep dreaming the dream - you may not get the bit of land next to you, but one day you might have your own bit of paradise ! And it's a better dream than some people of your age have, who just want to win X Factor or something.

Good luck,

Paul

[The_Doctor]

Thanks for the tips guys and advice!!!
I do understand how hard it would be to maintain a peice of land....


Feel a bit stupid to say this but I have no idea how big it is. My mother says our garden is just under 2 acres so at a rough estimate I guess.....8 or 10. But I honestly don't know

I definatly don't plan to remove any shrub or trees from the area as there is always something living there.

There is actually a gentle stream running around edge of the fields, not a fast flowing one, not ver deep either but it is a nice stream though. But I wanted to make a small pond, only a few metres wide, deep and in length in another part of the field. I did momentarily think about extending near a part of the river for natural water flow but then I realised that is almost certainly going to mess up the already natural flow of the stream and could do damage to the environment. So a big no no. Yea?

I am having doubts about the deer as I don't know if there are any deer around here that are wild. Only wild deer I've seen in N.I were in Tollymore Forest.

Whats one the other side of the fence? Well it goes all the way around the fields obvious. On the outside inludes, well going from left to right.....my garden, a field currently holding a herd of sheep, a path and gate in which the owners move and remove the cattle, then I don't know it probably runs through some trees on which the other side are feilds (this is where the stream begins to appear inside the area), then fields with cattle on the other side, then sombodys house which actually seems to have a bit of a swamp (or dreadfully dirty pond) in it, then a field with a random lone horse, then not sure probably the same field but blocked out by foliage, then it runs around to the road, then a bridge on the road (at which point the stream is at it's widest and fastest and goes under the bridge), then it goes up to my house again, the gate I climb over to get into and joins with the wire of my house.....there, my worst explanation of whats on the other side of the wire....lol I'm so bad at trying to get people to visulize

Yes they are all owned, or rented, by one farmer. They are all ajoined and the cattle easily move around them. There are now fences actually seperating them but you can see their boundaries.

I honestly never thought about the price of bird seed before. Should have really because the goldfinches here are so fond of the Niger seed you have to buy a bag once a week!!! However I have been looking at plants that would support birds with natural food

Not sure about any wildlife trusts near here actually, as I said Castle Espie is only 10 mins away by bike so maybe them? I definatly know they haven't got their eye on the place anyway.

I thought of something of a nature walk as a source of income, however you actually wouldn't be guaranteed to see anything though. So any ideas for that little bit?

I actually do have some photos of the place from my garden but they are on photobucket. Do I upload them from there to the Gallery or do I provide a link to photobucket??

[muldonach]

Should have mentioned it before but there is a book that illustrates what can be done - and the amount of time and effort that may be required - on a suitable area.

By a chap called Will Garfitt and are entitled "Will's Shoot Revisited" it will be obvious from the title that the author is a shooting person which you are not but the habitat and feeding which supports wild and released pheasants is suitable for many other species of birds, animals and plants.

I would say it is well worth a read even if you are not keen on shooting and i dare say some of the other posters may have some other suggestions

Cheers
mac

[ForestPaul]

Originally Posted by The_Doctor

Feel a bit stupid to say this but I have no idea how big it is. My mother says our garden is just under 2 acres so at a rough estimate I guess.....8 or 10. But I honestly don't know

There's an easy way to find out. Got to Area Calculator Using Maps, put in your post code, switch to the satellite view, zoom in until the land in question can be clearly seen, then mark the boundary by clicking on points round the edge. It will then give you the size in square meters and acres.