Lowland healthland restoration reaps rewards

A new stronghold for the nightjar and other wildlife has been established in the north of the New Forest thanks to the total transformation of a commercial tree plantation.

A diverse landscape of rare lowland heathland, woodland and wetland has been created at Foxbury, a 350-acre site acquired by the National Trust.

Foxbury is the largest project in the New Forest National Park Authority’s £4.4m landscape partnership scheme Our Past, Our Future, which is backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Restoration work has included removing invasive species such as pine and rhododendron - allowing native trees, wildflowers and shrubs to re-establish - as well as planting 18,000 trees with the help of volunteers.

The result has been a huge increase in wildlife from birds to butterflies.

© National Trust Images, John Millar

Jacob White, the National Trust’s area ranger, said, “Foxbury now has one of the densest nightjar populations in the New Forest with 27 churring males identified in recent surveys. Breeding Dartford warbler and woodlark have also been noted.

“In 2006 when Foxbury was still a plantation, the bird surveys consistently found around 12 species of bird on the site. Now, 106 species of bird have been identified at Foxbury.”

Further studies have identified 26 species of butterfly, including heathland specialist the silver-studded blue, 12 species of bat and over 17 species of dragonfly and damselfly.

A third of Foxbury is now woodland; trees planted include oak, alder, and sweet chestnut, as well as blackthorn, hawthorn, crab apple and wild cherry.

A herd of belted Galloway cattle and six New Forest ponies graze the land to keep the grasses and invasive plant saplings at bay.

With such an undertaking of habitat restoration, we knew local community involvement was fundamental for longterm success

Jacob said, “Foxbury is a huge success story for the National Park, not just through the regeneration of rare habitats and colonisation of wildlife, but also through its ability to involve members of the community from all walks of life through education, learning and volunteering.

“With such an undertaking of habitat restoration, we knew local community involvement was fundamental for long-term success. So far over 400 people have helped us plant 18,000 trees, survey for wildlife and maintain the heathland, clocking up over 1,600 volunteer days.

“Now we are able to offer the sweeping landscapes, rare wildlife spots and secluded woodlands of the New Forest within a private and easily accessible site.”

The landscape scheme has also seen a car park installed and a basecamp created featuring three timber cabins, benches, a den building area, bug hotels and a mud kitchen.

Foxbury is open for special events only. Upcoming events have been cancelled until government advice changes and social gathering restrictions are lifted.

To find out more visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/foxbury

© iStock.com/Vassilly Vishnevski

Facts Box Nightjars

Nightjars are very hawk-like in flight with long, pointed wings and a long tail. Males have a white spot on each wing that can sometimes be seen, but the shape and song along with their nocturnal activity make them unmistakable.

The New Forest is important for these unusual birds and is designated as a Special Protection Area in part because of the breeding populations of this species.

Found in areas of heath and young woodland, nightjars are an enigmatic bird and people will not forget seeing, or hearing, one.

They are only active at night as they feed on moths and other insects caught on the wing. They also sing at night – an eerie but beautiful churring sound, given from a prominent perch in a tree on the heath.

They have a silent floating flight, but the males will clap their wings together in a display to attract females. They are summer visitors (from Africa) and you will only see them between May and August.

Being nocturnal, they rest during the day. They also nest on the ground and so are superbly camouflaged with mottled browns and greys that are almost impossible to see against the background of bracken, heather and gravels.

Ground nesting birds can easily be frightened away from their nests in spring, leaving eggs or young vulnerable to the cold, or to predators such as crows.

To help them rear their young safely, please keep yourself, dogs and ridden horses on the main tracks from the beginning of March to the end of July.