From hedges to owl boxes: practical conservation with the Chess Valley Farmer Cluster
This month, our team has been working closely with the Chess Valley Farmer Cluster on a wide range of practical conservation projects.
From installing owl and kestrel boxes to monitoring wildlife, grazing sheep on watermeadows, and sampling soils, there’s been plenty of activity aimed at enhancing both the health of the land and the diversity of habitats it supports.
A key focus has been improving soil quality across the Chess Valley. Harriet has been collecting soil samples to understand their carbon content and nutrient status. These results guide decisions about where to plant herbal leys or green manures that enrich the soil, improve structure, and lock in more carbon. Looking ahead, the team will also be investigating rain infiltration and ways to reduce surface water run-off, tackling issues like soil compaction and drought resilience – challenges that farmers in the area are keen to address after recent dry summers.
Cattle grazing the watermeadows - a natural way to manage habitats and boost biodiversity.
At the same time, wildlife habitat restoration is well underway. Over the last two years, more than 2.6 km of new hedges have been planted, with another 1.5 km planned this winter, alongside traditional hedge management such as coppicing and laying. These hedgerows, together with the uncultivated margins that border them, create excellent conditions for biodiversity, supporting small mammals and insects that in turn sustain birds of prey. The results are already visible: more than 20 barn owl and kestrel boxes have been installed, some of which were occupied within just a few months. Pellet analysis has even revealed that voles, shrews, and cockchafers are among the owls’ favourite meals!
What’s for dinner? These barn owl pellets show that shrews (orange) and cockchafers (yellow) are their preferred diet!
BORG volunteers putting up new owl and kestrel boxes - some were occupied within two months!
Discover more about our Farmer Clusters and how we’re supporting biodiversity and sustainable farming across the region.
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