NVC Survey and Habitat Change Analysis – North Yorkshire

Client – Nethergill Farm

Key Services – Habitat Assessment

Duration – 2011 to 2021

Project Overview – NVC Survey and Farm Management Plan for Nethergill Farm near Buckden, North Yorkshire

Ecological Input – In 2011, Haycock and Jay Associates were commissioned to undertake an NVC survey of 160ha of farmland at Nethergill Farm near Buckden, North Yorkshire.

Fixed point quadrats were established in 2011 in all vegetation communities identified including blanket bog, wet and dry heath, calcareous grassland, acid grassland, both acid and alkaline fens and springs and a range of mesotrophic grassland communities.

Repeat surveys were undertaken in summer of 2017 and 2021 to allow comparison of data between the dates and an assessment of the impact of the extensification of farming management including stock reduction and use of freely roaming cattle on the moorland / bog.

There has also been a programme of grip blocking by Yorkshire Peat Partnership and work on the river by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.

Outcomes – Following data analysis it was clear that there were beneficial changes in Priority Habitat quality and extent, in particular the condition of blanket bog and wet heath with an increase in heather and other ericoid shrubs and Sphagnum moss species. Alkaline fen was shown to be actively selected for grazing by cattle ensuring these features are maintained. Of note was a significant increase in the occurrence and extent of the peat forming bog-moss Sphagnum magellanicum which is rare in the Dales.

Cattle-grazing on the bog has also proved beneficial for rare coprophilous mosses occurring on their fibrous dung. Splachnum ampullaceum is rare in Yorkshire, with only one record in Wharfedale this century. However, the species was recorded four times on cattle dung at Nethergill during 2017 survey.

Gordon has recently written an article that appeared in the British Wildlife magazine in June 2022. The article can be read here Nethergill Farm Habitat Management

For more information on Nethergill Farm visit https://www.nethergill.co.uk/