Huge increase in butterflies and birds at Forest beauty spot after restoration

THE restoration of a 350-acre site in the north of the New Forest has resulted in a huge increase in wildlife, including birds and butterflies.

Foxbury, which is owned by the National Trust, is the largest project in the national park’s £4.4m landscape partnership scheme, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The scheme comprises 21 projects and focuses on restoring lost habitats, developing traditional forest skills and inspiring a new generation to champion and care for the area.

Restoration work at Foxbury (pictured) has included removing invasive species such as pine and rhododendron, therefore allowing native trees, wildflowers and shrubs to re-establish, as well as planting 18,000 more trees.

Among those planted include oak, alder, sweet chestnut, blackthorn, hawthorn, crab apple and wild cherry.

The national trust’s area ranger Jacob White said: “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.”

He added: “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.”

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.

The site, which is grazed by a herd of belted Galloway cattle and six New Forest ponies to keep the grasses and invasive plant saplings at bay, will be open to the public in the future for a range of special events such as wild play days and ranger-led walks.

Jacob added: “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.”

The 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.