Articles

David Bellamy Conservation Award

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Church Stile Farm & Holiday Park has held the David Bellamy Conservation Award for 10 years now. As new owners of the site, our commitment to conservation on both the farm and holiday park is a key consideration in our day to day activities and future planning. To this end, in March 2013 we planted over 100m of hedgerow containing traditional native (and locally sourced) species such as Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris), Field Maple (Acer capestre), Common Hazel (Corylus avellana) and Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus).

During April we began planting traditional native wild flowers to attract butterflies and bees such as cornflower, knapweed, ragged robin, scabious, yarrow and poppy. This planting programmer will continue in the weeks ahead.

Part of the farm is designated as a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) as it comprises an extensive network of basin mire and acid flushes with bog pools and soakways. Basin mires are a rare habitat in the UK and are home to species such as bog mosses (Sphagnum. sp), bog myrtle, bog asphodel, common sundew, purple moor grass and cotton grass. A number of birds breed on basin mires and they are also an important habitat for many invertebrate fauna.