Habitats
South Warwickshire supports a diverse range of habitats within its rural landscape. These include farmland with hedgerows, species-rich grassland, woodland, and ponds. Rivers and streams, including the River Avon and River Stour, run through the area, supporting fish, birds, and a wide variety of plants and invertebrates. Traditional orchards, parkland and village green spaces also play an important role in supporting local wildlife.
Churchyards
Many churchyards and burial sites provide great habitats for wildlife and are sometimes home to unusual species. These may be plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians or lichens.
Sustainable Farming Groups
The Arden Farm Wildlife Network now has 50 members covering 10,400 hectares. As the longest running group, it has set a brilliant example for the newer groups to follow and is continuing to deliver great environmental benefits.
Wildlife Gardening
Gardens play an important role in supporting wildlife and enhancing biodiversity. By offering habitats, food, and shelter, they can greatly improve the health of local ecosystems.
Grassland
According to Plantlife over 97% of the UK’s species-rich grassland has been lost in less than a century and it now covers just 1% of land. Calcareous grassland in Warwickshire is largely…
Hedgerows
Hedgerows as a habitat can punch way above their weight! When managed well, the hedgerow network acts as a transition / ‘edge’ habitat, providing features of different habitat types such as woodland, grassland and scrub.
Traditional Orchards
Traditional orchards are low-density plantings of fruit trees such as apples, pears and plums on vigorous rootstocks, set within permanent grassland managed at low intensity.
Ponds
The total number of ponds in Britain has declined significantly over the last century, with an estimated one third lost in the past 50 years alone. Many of these ponds were originally man-made…
Rivers
Most rivers and streams have been significantly altered to support land drainage, water abstraction, flood management and navigation. These changes have included straightening…
Verges
Together with hedgerows, verges provide a network of wildlife habitats throughout the county. They are a priority habitat in Warwickshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Woodlands
Woodland is one of the most important habitats, supporting many species including plants, insects, mammals and birds, and providing a variety of benefits such as landscape, public…
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It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.
– Sir David Attenborough