Dr Martin Wilkie, Conservation Biologist at Marwell Wildlife
Eelmoor Marsh in Farnborough is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and Special Protection Area (SPA), owned by QinetiQ and managed in partnership with Marwell Wildlife. The site supports over 400 species of conservation concern, including many rare species of plants, birds and dragonflies. A long-term approach to sensitive habitat restoration is adopted for the lowland heath system, directed by a five-year management plan.
As part of the ongoing restoration, a mixed grazing regime of horses and cattle are employed. Currently, five male Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) from the captive population provide vital low intensity grazing across the site, controlling scrub and other dominating species. The site also provides a place for these animals to develop natural foraging behaviour and social dynamics, valuable in the event that these endangered horses are reintroduced into their natural ranges. For Eelmoor Marsh, these animals provide the grazing component of the system and extensive research has been carried out on this subject. I was recently able to complete my doctoral research on Eelmoor to assess the impact of these animals on the heathland biodiversity (Thesis: Mixed herbivore grazing on a lowland heath system: quantifying the collective impacts for conservation management). The work was significant in experimentally, assessing the ecological impacts of grazing animals on lowland heath biodiversity.
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Przewalski’s horses
Evaluating biodiversity
Undertaking ecological research on Eelmoor is hugely important for informing the habitat management, specifically for restoring the lowland heath system. In addition, a number of biological communities are systematically monitored by our principal surveyor to record trends in their populations over time. Botany, butterflies, dragonflies and heathland birds are annually monitored, but other assemblages (e.g. arachnids, fungi) are also closely surveyed. The diversity of the habitats on site makes Eelmoor a hotspot in north-east Hampshire for biodiversity.
A number of key vascular plants are monitored in detail and general heathland plants are also surveyed across the site according to the Eelmoor Marsh Management Plan 2010-14. In 2013, green-winged orchids (near threatened in Hampshire) were confirmed at three sites on the SSSI. Early marsh orchid (scarce in north Hampshire) had a peak count of 160 flowering spikes, a ten-fold increase since records began in 1998, owing largely to targeted habitat management and grazing. Also recorded on site was petty whin (near threatened nationally), which was formerly widespread throughout much of the lowlands of England, Wales and eastern Scotland but since the 1960s has seen substantial declines.
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Early marsh orchid
Long-term monitoring of lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) confirmed a total of 31 species on site in 2013, among them three UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species. Dingy skipper was seen in good numbers, utilising the short herb-rich grassland. Silver-studded blue was present in record numbers (57) in 2013, mostly males on areas that received targeted management, indicating over 100 individuals on site.
In 2013 a total of 23 dragonfly species were recorded. In Hampshire the keeled skimmer (nationally uncommon) is confined to heathland districts, mires and bogs. Following formal management of the ditch network from the early 1990s, typical counts have increased from around 20 to over 300 in a day. Eelmoor is also a stronghold for small red damselfly (nationally scarce) in north Hampshire with close to 1,000 records in mid-July. We have come a long way from the meager few records in the early days of the project.
The activities on this regionally-important site are carefully planned and implemented, directed by the Eelmoor Marsh Management Plan and by the Conservation Group. Eelmoor Marsh is an ecologically-valuable and diverse site led by a unique project, partnered between Marwell Wildlife and QinetiQ.
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