Farm Nature Enhancement Plan; 2025 -
This will involve the development of 2 ponds / 2 large butterfly banks / 10 scrapes for solitary bee`s and the start of managing 35 acres of woodland by re-introducing coppicing and removal of non-native species such as Sitka Spruce and planting of native species to increase the biodiversity of the area, while opening up the canopy to encourage light to get to the soil to aid the spread of the native Blue bell field (pictured below).
Through the phases completed we have now established a lot of tree copses / seed islands that will greatly benefit not just nature but all the people that are now using the site for dog walking / leisure walkers and bikers, making this a WIN / WIN situation for Aberfeldy.
Future plans also include us planting some flowers that are Bat friendly, along with a wider selection of meadow flower seeds to be planted direct into position and to sow some in the polytunnel to be planted out in the spring. Especially to encourage the Northern Brown Argus butterfly that we have just recently found onsite.
Thank you to Perth and Kinross Nature Restoration Fund for there support over the first two phases in conjunction with what was Glassie Bike Park.
Pictures below are of frogs moving from wetland ponds and scrapes to find partners, a great sound when they are all croaking away as your sitting there listening to them with the Skylark singing its heart out above you out of site and the warm sunrays encouraging spring flowers on the side of the burns.
Meadow Creation;
Between the mosaic of tree planting we are keeping the meadow habitats, these will be left alone to encourage voles and mice, which will in turn encourage kestrels and Barn / Tawny Owls along with other raptors such as Sparrow Hawks, Common Buzzard and Hen Harriers. This young barn owl picture below was taken (2000) when one of the young was seen testing his flying for the first time, he survived along with another from that same brood. Leaving the meadows uncut has most certainly increased the populations of finches that we now see flitting around on the seed heads.
This year we will be introducing some Yellow Rattle to give variation in grass density which wildlife and certain plants require to thrive, along with sowings of bat friendly plug plants grown in our poly tunnel. Then wild flower meadow seed sown direct to disturbed ground in the spring.
Bench Seating and Sit Spot introduction;
We are now planning to put in some hardcore / slab bases under the 3 main seating areas along the Core Path route to prevent the areas becoming to wet and muddy. We are also introducing "Sit Spots" to the site so you can just relax and loose yourself in the surrounding landscape with nature.
Leaky Dams and wetland creation / enhancement;
We have established a few leaky dams on the burns as the 1st picture below shows the team at work back in 2023. This was done in conjunction with Mossy Earth, these first ones were washed away with the excessively heavy rainfall we had here in Oct 23. A bit of redesigning was required, but we built them again in June 24, but better of course. The middle picture did have two dams in it.
The picture on the right below is of the burn that we have left to its own devices. We have left fallen trees in it and its looking great by creating varied habitats down its course. Better than the straight fast flow as pictured in the centre. Shingle banks and pools of slower moving water, so happy.
Pictures coming soon of how it now looks a year on, with riparian planting establishing itself nicely.
