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 2022

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HILLS FARM WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

TO DO - 2023

Many changes were made to how and when maintenance operations were carried out between 2022 and 2023 and we are already seeing the benefits and effects especially in the grass-cutting regimes along the Riverside. Obviously the weather played and important part and it was very good to see that there was an almost complete recovery from the heatwaves of 2022. The Riverside produced abundant blossoms and fruits after a rather fearful wait in the spring. The right amount of rain and sun at the right times meant prolific growth was seen. Some strong winds just as trees had come into leaf produced some broken branches - these have been inspected and dealt with where necessary, with wildlife very much in mind. Autumn hedgerow fruits and berries have grown especially strongly with Blackberry

growth spectacular. There is also an unprecedented growth of Elderberries and Hawthorn berries - plenty for the winter ahead.

More news later on the results for this year and for plans for future work.

TO DO  -   SUMMER/Autumn 2022

This summer has proved to be exceptional so far after a very warm Spring with very few frosts

and no damaged blossom, followed by record heat-wave conditions and little rainfall.

Unlike last year (2021) acorns appeared very early in large quantities on the Oaks with fruit trees bearing huge crops. All fruit trees were checked and all were found to have fruits, some in abundance. Despite the exceptionally hot weather in July and August the trees are retaining most fruits with some fall of smaller fruits, rapidly removed by wildlife on the river banks, as intended.

Timely rainfall after many days of near drought conditions has caused blackberries, present in large quantities, to ripen (2nd half of August) providing plenty of wayside fruit for our resident birds and passing migrant birds returning to their wintering grounds. There was not a lot of work needed to encourage growth! Small mammals and passers-by are taking their share too.

Future work may be needed on retaining moisture by mulching the fruit trees and watering young trees planted on 13th March 2022 this spring which have received extra water due to the dry conditions. Those planted last year were growing well in good conditions, protected by tree guards.

Butterflies have been exceptional amongst the meadow grasses this year, at least until the days of extreme temperatures.

 

We hope to complete a survey of Ancient and Veteran tree candidates to be verified by the Woodland Trust. These are mature trees in our area along the river, most of them English Oaks.

 SPRING 2022: continue to monitor conditions  around the young trees. including those planted on 28th March 2021, watering frequently if  this Spring, like last year 2021 is

 very dry.  The surrounding grasses and plants are deliberately left to go to seed for birds to feed on during the winter and do not need cutting or trimming in the spring as this will destroy the budding flowers which will in turn produce more seed.

Early spring wild flowers will then provide food for early bees and butterflies. 

April 25th 2021: We removed all large old (over 10 years in some cases) plastic tree guards which were used to protect whips from browsing by deer and damage by works vehicles and have renewed other tree guards in order to continue to protect the stem, lower branch and trunk and root areas as damage is unfortunately continuing.

The last stage is to add new mulch/compost around the roots.

Protect the wild and grassed areas which have been damaged during lockdown by people trying to avoid natural  muddy conditions. Ask people to tread and run through the mud on the official paths and not widen or create diversions across the landscape as this degrades the environment and can destroy fragile native wild flowers completely for the future. We will monitor the recovery of these areas and inform HDC.

2020, was another very different year, due to Covid-19 and an exceptionally hot summer. After a very warm winter. riverside plant growth was exceptional at first and wildlife prospered with good food supplies. Butterflies especially were exceptional in their numbers although later dragonflies were not as numerous as usual as the days grew hotter and drier. Fruits such as blackberries dried out before ripening in places but larger fruits did well. The amounts of some other fruits lasted well into the winter with winter migrants benefitting from laden thickets and hedges throughout the winter. Crops of acorns were huge with the ground under each oak carpeted with thick layers of acorns, far too many for squirrels and birds such as jays to cache.

 2019 was very different from the previous year with no watering needed and no mulching either on the trees the Group have planted over recent years.  Light rain kept the ground surface damp and riverside native plant growth was superb. The river remained fairly low but flowing well.
Established and old trees on the Hills Farm Lane section were fully surveyed In spring 2019 and as a result some work was done to stabilise a few Ash trees and work on three major old Oak trees on the river bank was scheduled  for later in the year. Work was completed on two of these Oaks - the second one towards the end of the year. The third Oak remains to be done. 
Surveying of long-established trees and remedial tree work is carried out by Horsham District Council Countryside.
Conditions have become very difficult now (December 2019) after heavy rainfall but this is normal and at present is welcome - after several years of unusually dry weather.

The construction of the East Bridge (see below) was completed in autumn 2019 and associated landscaping work by the developer commenced this winter.

Previous years:  Mulching around roots of our young trees on the embankments was done on 30th June 2018. Regular watering of these trees continued throughout July and continued during August when needed.  After the old fallen Ash tree had to be removed by the EA : by mid - June 2017 the  bare ground on the bank had regenerated naturally! A further ash tree had a leaning branch and was felled by contractors in 2017 Observe this new habitat and also the area to the south where reptile habitat 'manipulation' was carried out by the developers contractors in preparation for new construction work now ongoing during 2019.
As part of this new construction work (called the 'East Bridge') a section of border hedgerow was removed together with two trees on the north edge of the playing fields and a tree and shrub area on the path and river bank area the width of  new bridge.
This was done on 13th March 2018. 

Update July 2018. The East Bridge Construction Site was fenced off and work commenced on the access off the road.
The South development site side of the river was then cleared of vegetation along the width of the bridge to be built. The clearance was done slowly in the presence of an ecologist.
It is important that this section of the river Arun continues to be monitored now that work around the drainage Basin 4 is ongoing close by.
The  'East Bridge' river bank area to be surveyed for nesting birds before work starts.
(Developer's ecologist responsible.) Done - 16th July 2018. 


Daily when possible - general check on the East Bridge Construction site, especially where work is being carried out by contractors. ONGOING 25th April 2019.

Continue to monitor area around the young trees (on our side (HDC side)
and water when necessary. A 1m radius around each tree needs is mulched. Continue to check mulch and water when necessary.
 Check and replace damaged and missing stakes and tree-guards on all trees planted when needed. (last maintenance done November 2018 ) Next maintenance will be during 2019 - replace stakes where necessary and secure tree-guards.
Encourage growth on the embankments - protect early spring-flowering native plants and reduce the  encroachment of 'amenity' ryegrass which stifles seeding native meadow grasses.

Butterflies  FIRST and LAST:

FIRST BUTTERFLIES SEEN 2019: Brimstone on Friday 15th February and another on Sunday 17th February, then Red Admiral on Saturday 23rd February. First Small Tortoiseshell on Saturday 30 March, first Holly Blue butterfly on Monday 15th April and the first Orange-tips on Thursday 18th April - the first of many! 
Interestingly - the latter was seen on the same day last year - see below…

FIRST butterflies seen: Brimstone and Orange Tip on Wednesday 18th April 2018!

LAST butterfly seen to date :
Red Admiral on Friday 30th November 2018


2017 - RED ADMIRAL - first butterfly seen last year on 13th February 2017 flying along the river bank. This year 2018 up to the end of April has been a lot colder with many frosts and the first butterflies to be seen were a male Orange-tip and a male Brimstone on Wednesday 18th April.
The  first day when good numbers of Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were seen last year was Sunday 26th March 2017. Large numbers of Orange-tip butterflies appeared patrolling the banks and frequenting the Cuckooflower plants. Holly Blue butterflies and Speckled Wood butterflies were also been early last year.
The first day when good numbers of butterflies were seen this year 2018 however was on 19th April 2018 when numbers of Orange-tips, males and females were seen ranging along the river banks. 

….and dragonflies:

The first dragonfly, a female Banded Demoiselle Damselfly was seen on 14th MAY 2018!

Last year a Large Red Damselfly was the first dragonfly to be seen 21st April 2017  then on 24th April the first Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly was seen on nettles on the river bank - the earliest date recorded since these records started 6 years ago. 

Year 2016: Orange Tips and Holly Blues were numerous in spring (2016)  but Summer butterflies were scarce although Meadow Browns appeared in good numbers in June/July on meadow and grasses. By the end of July more had been seen - Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma, Green-veined White, Ringlet, (Brimstone earlier) ,  Common Blue - but most in small numbers - however large numbers of Gatekeepers ranging along the riverside (end of July 2016).
In Autumn 2016 Speckled Woods were quite numerous with Red Admirals and Large White butterflies also seen. Brown Hairstreak butterflies were seen on three occasions this autumn, in three separate locations.

Check the 30 new hedging plants and tree planted on 18th March 2016
when necessary. Check growth of grass around the roots.
Doing well autumn 2018

Make plans for early removal of Himalayan Balsam plants  whilst at basal leaf stage -
 however nettles and brambles have been observed to have grown up in their place.

Monitor two Woodcrete bird nest boxes from the RSPB, installed 2016. These are in good condition at present (November 2018)
Install two further Woodcrete bird nest boxes from RSPB winter 2018/19

All planted trees: check growth around new trees and add more mulch if necessary including additional planting of native plants 2016. These are shrubs to protect areas reserved for wild grasses and wild flowers. Prepare ground around these for native flowering plants.

Continue to monitor changes on and around drainage Basin 5 (South Site dev.) after hand dug channel made on
24th April 2016 (as approved by developer's ecologist) and subsequent addition to height of raised bank between river and Basin. As natural growth covers this, scan for wildlife return to the area. 

Complete  (will be done when the new East Bridge is completed, allowing access) age measurements of old oaks on the riverside if conditions are right - 5 done so far - see October  2014 entry on  Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation  

Check THS school playing fields perimeter path and new hedgerow area planting, collect discarded tree guards and remove stray shoots across the path.

This is WSCC land.

Throughout the year:

Watch out for further fly-tipping, especially in the Guildford road bridge area. Continue to monitor the new native WILD flowers and grasses 'patch' and also the new trees. HDC Parks and Countryside have reminded the contractor about avoiding cutting what look like 'weeds' - ie the local native wild flowers and grasses growing on the subsoil 'patch'. This area is now protected by additional mixed native planting. 

Monitor the new section of path alongside the new school sports pitches - record amounts of litter and rubbish along the path, health of verges planted with native trees and shrubs and wild flower meadow.
Report back to HDC on conditions in the Children's Play Area adjacent to Highwood

Part of the group may be working in the Ridgehurst Drive area.
We'll check the situation here before our meet.


ANNUAL SUMMARY OF WORK

From 1st July 2017 to 1st July 2018 will be posted together with a summary of 1st July 2018 to 31st December 2018 soon.

from 1st July 2016 to 1st July 2017 and future plans:

Fruits forming in June 2017

Number of Meets held by the Group - 12, one each month of the year, with many additional hours worked at other times between scheduled Meets.

Number of person hours worked: 291

averaging 3 hours per person per month.

Items hauled from the rivers included 5 supermarket trolleys, 6 bicycles or scooters, several traffic cones and road signs, For Sale signs, chairs and a trampoline.

We continued to monitor young newly planted fruit trees and native hedgerow plants and carry out maintenance, renewing tree guards, stakes and ties where necessary and clearing and mulching around the roots.

Courses and Workshops were attended by members such as 'Working on Water' and 'Working with Ladders' run by Horsham District Council. JF attended the Arun and Rother Connections Project conference in November. The ARC projects we participed in included Dragonfly surveys and Invasive Species recognition in the Arun and Western Streams Catchment area. JF also attended a Winter Tree identification course run by HDC at WLNR.

Bat boxes made by a group member and 'Woodcrete' bird boxes installed  by the Group were monitored.

Wildlife Surveys for this area are carried out all year, with records sent to the British Trust for Ornithology and the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The records are on our Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation website - see link at top of page.

Risk Assessment meetings with HDC are held when necessary. Our group is also linked to the Sussex Wildlife Trust (Gatwick Greenspace Partnership) who maintain contact with us and offer advice.

Other activities include taking part in ongoing consultations with the housing developer of land immediately across the river - and with various contractors.

Responding to new Planning Applications for further phases of the same development and reporting problems encountered by members of the public - local people, is part of our work. The current project, due to be approved soon, is a new bus bridge to be constructed over the river here providing public transport to new residents via a new access road onto Hills Farm Lane.

The HDC Parks and Countryside plans for maintenance, to conserve wildlife habitat along the river and the extensive riverine environment continue to improve, increasing wildlife diversity here. Further changes could be made to increase the biodiversity in the area and conserve the rich natural environment despite further development of the adjacent land.
Bats continue to thrive, together with bird and insect life here and the native plants that support them. We aim to protect and improve the habitat for scarce species of butterfly and damselfly which are found in very localised areas here.
Allowing natural growth has been very rewarding this spring and summer (2017) with large numbers of butterflies and bees present.

Future Plans:
Continue to work with HDC, local people and the developer in our aim to protect pollinating insects and prevent the rapid decline of most species of bumblebee and honeybee. The fruit trees we have planted have continued to blossom well and most are bearing fruit. Grass cutting has been further reduced to allow for the growth of native grasses and wildflowers beneficial to birds and insects. Our aim is to reduce the amount of 'sterile' Amenity Grass (Rye grass) and restrict its use to adjacent playing fields and to continue to request the cessation of hedge and marginal flailing and 'tidying' during the bird and mammal nesting season when nesting birds and hedgehogs are most vulnerable.

We aim to retain the area as a countryside place for quiet enjoyment and will continue to monitor river health, with the Environment Agency. We will also continue to advise the developers of the adjacent land on planting, conserving and creating wildlife habitat along the river and across all phases of their site. We may install more bat boxes and bird boxes depending on the extent of habitat loss on the Southern Site and further habitat loss on the site of the planned new 'East Bridge' over the Arun depending on final plans. 

We aim to make sure that any loss is replaced by native plants and extended without the use of sterile 'Amenity grass'. Damp drainage basins should be allowed to retain wet areas where native planting and existing  vegetation grows to create links with the existing riverine habitat.

Strimming and mowing should not be carried out anywhere on and near the development drainage basins and ponds  during the bird nesting season.




ANNUAL SUMMARY OF WORK
from July 2015 to JULY 2016 and future plans:

Every flower attracts insects large and small (Rosa canina)

Number of Meets held - 12 throughout the year with many addition hours worked at times when necessary between schedules meets.

Number of person hours worked - 265
Number of bags of litter and rubbish collected - 80
Other items hauled from the river and river banks included 5 bicycles, 2 trolleys, several 'For Sale' signs, assorted car parts.

Planting - 30 native hedgerow plants (small) selected and purchased by the group to protect the wild river bank.
Installing two 'Woodcrete' bird boxes on trees on the river bank.

All year - maintaining this website; taking part in ongoing consultations with the housing developer of land immediately across the river, and with various contractors. Responding to new planning applications for new phases of the same development. Reporting any problems encountered by members of the public - local people using the riverside walk in this location.
Attending courses and workshops e.g. wildflower and grasses course, Invasive Species workshop.
Wildlife Surveys all year, recorded and sent to BTO/Sussex Wildlife Trust (online) and recorded on our Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation website - click on link at top of this page.
Our Group is also linked to the Sussex Wildlife Trust  'Gatwick Greenspace Partnership'
who maintain contact  with us and offer advice.
Carry out Pond and river Dragonfly Surveys including Aquatic and Margin plant species including participation in the ARC project 
Arun and Rother Connections.

PROGRESS from last year : see below for notes in Annual Summary for July 2014 to July 2015.
There have been no major pollution incidents
Normal flooding occurred after heavy rainfall when the river bursts its banks and spreads over its natural floodplain.

The HDC Parks and Countryside plans for maintenance, to conserve wildlife habitat along the river and the extensive riverine environment continue to improve, increasing wildlife diversity here. Further changes could be made to increase the biodiversity in the area and conserve the rich natural environment despite further development of the adjacent land.
Bats continue to thrive, together with bird and insect life here and the native plants that support them.

Future Plans:
Continue to work with HDC, local people and the developer in our aim to protect pollinating insects and prevent the rapid decline of most species of bumblebee and honeybee. The fruit trees we have planted have continued to blossom well and most are bearing fruit. Grass cutting has been further reduced to allow for the growth of native grasses and wildflowers beneficial to birds and insects. Our aim is to reduce the amount of 'sterile' Amenity Grass (Rye grass) and restrict its use to adjacent playing fields and to continue to request the cessation of hedge and marginal flailing and 'tidying' during the bird and mammal nesting season when nesting birds and hedgehogs are most vulnerable.

We aim to retain the area as a countryside place for quiet enjoyment and will continue to monitor river health, with the EA and the ARC Project. We will also continue to advise the developers of the adjacent land on planting, conserving and creating wildlife habitat along the river and across all phases of their site. We may install more bat boxes and bird boxes depending on the extent of habitat loss on the Southern Site and further habitat loss on the site of the planned new 'East Bridge' over the Arun.. 

ANNUAL SUMMARY OF WORK 
from July 2014 to July 2015 and future plans:

Small Tortoiseshell butterfly nectaring on thistle

Number of meetings held - 12 throughout the year with many additional hours at times when necessary between scheduled meets.

Number of person hours worked - 250
Number of bags of litter and rubbish collected - 74
other items hauled from the river and river banks included 4 bicycles 10 supermarket trolleys, parts of aTern Raft washed downstream in a flood from Warnham Local Nature Reserve etc.

Planting - 15 fruit trees (crab apple etc) on bridge embankment to form a continuation of the linear orchard planted along the river, selected and purchased by the group with funding from Horsham District Council Parks and Countryside
Planting:  native spring flower bulbs donated by housing developer along tree verges.
All year - maintaining this website.

Taking part in ongoing consultations with the housing developer of land across the river and with various contractors.

Wildlife Surveys all year, recorded and sent to BTO / Sussex Wildlife Trust (online) and recorded on our Conservation Group Wildlife website:
Hills Farm Wildlife Conservation (click on link above)
Linked to Sussex Wildlife Trust 'Gatwick Greenspace Partnership'.

Pond and River surveys including participation in ARC (Arun and Rother Connections' 
surveys recording Dragonflies, Aquatic and Margin plant species to be found on our location. Participation in 'Invasive Species workshop run by ARC.

PROGRESS from last year (see notes in Annual Summary July 2013 to July 2014 below)
There have been no major pollution incidents.
There was one incident affecting the river during the millpond embankment work at WLNR upstream when the sluice gates failed and the water flow out of the millpond could not be controlled. This caused loss of fish and aquatic wildlife on the reserve but did not affect the river downstream in our locality - and water levels quickly recovered.
Normal flooding occurred along the river floodplain.
Some destruction occurred to our local riverine environment when work was carried out  by contractors to remove obstructions along the river course - work usually carried out by the Environment Agency. The river ecology appears to be recovering quickly however.
The HDC Parks and Countryside plans for maintenance, to conserve wildlife habitat along the river and the extensive riverine environment are an improvement - and wildlife diversity has certainly improved over the past year but there is still more that could be agreed (more constraints) which would further increase the diversity of ecology in the area and conserve the rich natural environment.

Bats have made use of bat boxes installed by the group in our area early last year.

Future Plans:
Continue in our aim to protect pollination insects and help halt the rapid decline of most species of bumblebee and honeybees
The group planting of fruit trees funded by HDC Parks and Countryside last winter has helped with this - the new trees were full of blossom this spring and most are bearing fruit. Grass cutting has been reduced and the uncut areas are full of bees, butterflies, hover flies and other pollinating insects. In autumn they will provide food food for seed-eating birds. Butterflies such as Skippers use long grasses to overwinter in caterpillar form.
Cutting long grasses and wild flowers causes a serious degradation of the local ecology and reduces the biodiversity which should be maintained and protected. Cutting also causes soil erosion, damage to tree roots and desertification of the area.
Hedge and marginal flailing and strimming decimates the  hedgehog population.

We aim to retain the area as a countryside place for quiet enjoyment and will continue to monitor river health, with the EA and with the ARC Project. We will also continue to advise the developers of the adjacent land on planting, conserving and creating wildlife habitat on their site along the river. They have recently installed bat boxes and bird boxes on their site.



ANNUAL SUMMARY OF WORK
from JULY 2013 to July 2014 and future plans:

 BAT NOTE:

BATS were first seen using the Bat Boxes during October 2014 - about 8 months after their installation. This is not bad at all, as it can take much longer before bats roost in new boxes. Bat roosting is confirmed by the presence of droppings on the outside surface of the box under the entrance gap. During the winter, bats will seek out more sheltered hibernation roosts such as buildings and tunnels and will return to chosen tree roosts or bat boxes on trees once the weather warms up in spring.
Common Pipistrelle bats are the most numerous species of bat here and are the most likely species to use the bat boxes. 
They have returned to the boxes each year since then (2015, 2016, 2017)

Below is a photo of one of the three bat boxes made by Bill before installation.