Drying Up

With the continuing drought affecting much of the country, there is concern that wildlife reliant on stream and pond habitats is beginning to suffer.  River levels are continuing to fall, and may leave some creatures at risk, such as frogs, toads and newts, also preventing some insects from hatching.

Water vole populations could also suffer as the falling water levels expose their burrows.  The entrances are normally hidden at the water line; as the water level falls there is an increased risk of predation as the burrow entrances are exposed.

At Foxglove we have been busy working on the wetland over the past few weeks, ensuring that the dams and sluices are all functional and the water levels are at their optimum for this time of year.  This will help to protect the habitat for the water voles and also provide breeding habitats for waders and wild fowl.