Autumn Wildlife Update

Throughout autumn, as the warm weather gradually winds down, Center Parcs Conservation Rangers are reflecting on the summer’s achievements.  After a fruitful summer, the Conservation Rangers on each village are working toward the next season, making sure that animal and plant life is balanced and that the new generations of animals have the food and shelter they need to get through the winter.

In Sherwood Forest, the team of Rangers are celebrating a summer of great success, ecologically speaking. The large project undertaken on the Willow Tunnel heathland was completed. While the bare sandy soil left around the heathland is now perfect for winter heather, the diggers left a vertical bank into which the teams have inserted artificial sand martin nesting tubes.

These birds, smaller relatives of the swallow and house martin, are a summer migrant species having flown over from south of the Sahara. In the past 25 years, their numbers have declined by half, meaning that this sanctuary is providing a vital role in sustaining the population.

Sherwood’s owl boxes are increasing in popularity, with two breeding pairs of tawny owls taking up residence. The owlets have had rings put on their legs by bird ringers from the British Ornithological Society so their progress can be tracked. A third breeding pair of tawny owls was spotted in a tall tree stump by a keen-eyed Ranger.

The annual newt survey has found 13 smooth newts in the Village’s lakes. These newts can live for around six years and reach sizes of about 11cm in length. Newts are very particular about egg laying, individually wrapping each egg in a leaf on the water’s surface. With so many water fowl at the Village nibbling the leaves on the lake, the teams are finding ingenious ways to protect the newt population. Cages have been set up around the edge of the lake to keep the vegetation safe, and strips of plastic bags have been secured to the edges, as newts will often choose these first.

The newt survey gives the Rangers a chance to keep an eye on the other water life found in the lake, and this summer they were able to identify a very healthy dragonfly nymph population. Although the adult dragonfly may only live for a couple of months at best, as a nymph it can live for up to five years, depending on the species. In this time they can be fierce predators, catching tadpoles and even small fish. There are 34 dragonfly species in the UK and you can find half of them at Sherwood Forest.

Down in the south west, Longleat Forest’s woodland inhabitants are preparing for the autumn. As summer wanes, the migrant birds in the forest take to the skies on their long journey back to Africa. For the animals left behind, there is plentiful food lying around including acorns, beech mast and hazelnuts. Jays and squirrels will bury these foods across the forest to see them through the winter and spring, while every animal will enjoy feasting on soft fruits including blackberries, sloes and cherries. This pre-winter bulk-up is most notable in the badgers – they can spend up to 10 hours a night foraging for food.

Ranger James Monk noted: “Adult badgers can be three kilos heavier at this time of year than in the spring.” Fungi are beginning to emerge, which adds to the abundance of food available. These complex and fascinating organisms play a very important role in the woodland. Not only do they help to break down dead wood into the soil, but in fact around 90 per cent of plants need some kind of fungal relationship to help absorb the soil’s nutrients.

With winter just around the corner, the Rangers have also been reassessing the activities available to guests. Family Pondwatch, Creepy crawlies and Who’s Out After Dark are gone, with Talking Toadstools back in. November is also an exciting time in the forest. James explained: “November sees National Tree Week, where we encourage staff and guests to plant a tree in our nature reserve, Nockatt Coppice. Not only will they be planting a tree for wildlife but they are also helping to restore the coppice woodland that was originally on the site.”

In the Lake District, Whinfell Forest have had a great summer sharing the woodland with their guests. Senior Ranger Emma Tapp commented: “Little Explorers and Forest Creations went really well over the summer. There is a good team here at the Rangers’ Lodge and loads of activities going on.”

Pond Dipping and Creepy crawlies are also hugely popular, giving children the chance to meet, up close, the mini beasts that live in the trees, the woodland floor and the ponds on the site. These activities introduce children to the diversity of life that can be going on around them all the time. During the summer, the teams at Whinfell were also helping guests to explore the environment nearby with their Walk to Cliburn.

Taking place in the evening with rangers from Natural England joining the walk, this was a great opportunity to see the animals that live in this nearby National Park. Emma continued: “There were opportunities of spotting deer, badgers and our famous red squirrels. It was a great evening walk for everyone.”

At Elveden Forest, the Ranger team has been caring for some of the rarer species on the Village. These include the dingy skipper – a small and inconspicuous butterfly that is a rarity in Suffolk. Peter Larcombe, Senior Conservation Ranger at Elveden explained: “The butterflies’ requirements include plenty of Birdfoot trefoil: a sparse, short sward with many bare patches that create warmth for the developing eggs, along with some longer vegetation used for roosting sites.”

And another forest inhabitant has been helping out too. “The sudden increase in our rabbit population has helped out as the rabbits have eaten most of the grass and many other plant species, giving our host plant a chance to free-germinate and spread,” Peter continued. “As it not very palatable to rabbits they leave it alone.” Throughout the winter, work will continue to create more sunny glades on the mounds – the ideal habitat for this endangered butterfly.

Over on the water, Elveden’s lakes are set to receive a lot of treatment. “The lakes take up a lot of time during the winter months,” related Peter. “We start bank clearing, which allows the flowers to bloom.” The overflow grilles are also maintained and the lakeside vegetation is supported. This provides a good breeding area for many creatures. Speaking of which, some of the more recognisable bird species have been supported throughout the summer.

A kingfisher nesting bank has been constructed on one of the islands. “They have only nested once before, when the conditions were right,” Peter clarified. “Kingfishers visit our lakes most years so we’ll just have to wait and see.” You may also see a large owl nesting box on the island. This was placed there to make sure such boxes are used for the right purpose: “As soon as we put any large boxes up for owls or other birds of prey they get taken over by our squirrels and the birds do not get a chance.”

The great work of Center Parcs Conservation Rangers will continue throughout the winter, making sure that when the spring comes round again, the forest is as safe and supportive a place as it has ever been.