With two small woods, an old orchard, and several ponds, we have created and continue to encourage diverse wildlife habitats at Eldersfield. Our oak woodland is ecologically managed to allow other foliage to fulfil it's potential by felling the older, dying trees to open the canopy. This allows the sunlight in to promote growth on the woodland floor and avoid the sterile habitat of unmanaged oak woodland.

In the old orchards, some deadwood is retained to provide diverse habitat for birds and insects. A recent study by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group has shown that deadwood in orchards provides the most diverse habitat for wildlife.

Two new ponds have been created and we are working with various experts to encourage wildlife in these areas. We are also investigating the use of wide field margins to avoid the isolation of pockets of wildlife which may be under threat and, where unconnected to similar habitats, unable to regenerate. This is particularly relevant where this connects to similar habitats across the farm.

Little Owl
Barn Owl
Tawny Owl
Grey Partridge
French partridge
Pheasant
Green Woodpecker
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Goldcrest
Swallow