Green Hill Farm Biodiversity Report 2024
- Russell Wynn
- May 9
- 2 min read
The Green Hill Farm Biodiversity Report 2024 is now available for download as a PDF at the link below:
In addition, the Executive Summary of the report is copied below.
This 2024 Biodiversity Report for Green Hill Farm (Landford) provides an overview of ecological survey and monitoring work conducted in 2024, and forms part of a long-term Biodiversity Enhancement Plan for the site.
The report focusses on an area called the ‘conservation fields’ that are primarily managed to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain; these fields cover nearly 11 ha, which is about one-third of the overall site area.
A total of 52 hours of survey effort was delivered in 2024, including monthly walkover surveys, an eight-month trail camera deployment, and a nocturnal moth survey.
A total of 141 new species was recorded across the whole site in 2024, bringing the 2023-24 species total to 847 species using all survey methods, including 32 priority species of high conservation interest. A total of 609 species has been recorded from the conservation fields alone, including 20 priority species.
A whole-site breeding bird survey recorded 29 breeding bird species and a total of 141 occupied territories, which is a 15% increase on the 2023 total. Three pairs of Stonechats bred successfully for the first time, including two pairs on the conservation fields where non-breeding Dartford Warbler was also recorded for the first time.
Reptiles included the first records of Slow-worm in the conservation fields and regular sightings of Common Lizard and Grass Snake, both of which appear to be spreading into new areas of developing damp grassland and/or scrubby habitat.
Dedicated counts of orchids in the conservation fields produced five Bee Orchids, 58 Pyramidal Orchids, and 507 Southern Marsh Orchids, while numbers of Corky-fruited Water-dropwort increased to 25 and the red-listed Lesser Spearwort and Corn Mint were also noted.
Polecat and Woodcock were notable records from the trail camera deployment in the woodland block adjacent to the conservation fields.
Fungi records included a specimen of the nationally rare Conocybe dentatomarginata that was confirmed by DNA analysis and is the first Wiltshire and New Forest record, and a record of Scarlet Elf Cup that was identified by microscopy and is the first confirmed New Forest record.
A nocturnal moth survey in the conservation fields on 13 Aug 2024 produced two Tree-lichen Beauty (a recent colonist in the region), as well as the nationally scarce Gorse Knot-horn and Waste Grass Veneer for the second year running, indicating local breeding.
Current and future management of the conservation fields is focussed on developing an appropriate mix of grassland and scrub, and includes a variable mowing regime, targeted control of creeping thistle and ragwort, and removal of non-native plant species; ongoing ecological monitoring will assess the efficacy of management interventions and inform future action.
Guided walks for lodge owners have helped to raised awareness of on-site biodiversity and conservation management, and further guided walks for lodge owners and local residents are planned for 2025.