Manor Farm's Different Habitats
INTRODUCTION
Heslerton is in the middle of a
belt of
farmland which has not yet been too adversly affected by modern 'mass
production' farming methods. Thus, the hedgerow and woodland habitats of the
native flora and fauna are still intact, and a wide variety of wildlife can be
observed. This is further being encouraged by
conservation projects
on the farm.
The ecology of any place is
greatly affected by human activity as well as natural influences such as soil
type, climatic conditions, and topography. Here at Manor farm the present policy
is to enhance the natural features of the area.
The natural
features of the valley have been greatly influenced by the ice age and the
resulting deglaciation lake, Lake Pickering
and its subsequent draining and man's influence subsequently.
A keen interest has always been taken to increase the wildlife on the farm,
over the last 90 years no hedges have been removed in fact the field layout
today is very similar to that on the 1847 Ordnance Survey map.
MARL PIT
This was a pit dug during the second world war by Italian Prisoner of war and
non conformists, the idea was this Marl (Marl is another term of clay
(Speeton Clay )
was dug up and spread on the sand
land thus preventing it from blowing away in the wind. This left a large clay
hole which holds water for most years.
The area has been planted with willows and by natural regeneration quickthorn
ash and elder berry bushes are all mature, this is a little haven for all types
of wildlife birds, small animals, insects and flowers. It is envisaged this will
be improved during the winter of 1999 / 2000 by the pond are being enlarged.
PHIL'S FOLLY
An area of land that War Ministry of Food again in the second world war was
made to be ploughed out for the first time. It is a very steep hillside in the
corner of a field not suitable for tractors to drive on in safety. When it was
no longer compulsory to plough this area it was decided to plant it with trees
30 years ago. Conifers were planted mainly larch, however due to rabbit damage
not many grew, today it is mainly an area of total natural chalk land natural
regression. As with the marl pit mainly quickthorn and ash, with much other
wildlife living in it.
Arable and
hedgerows
Old pastures
Wetland and carr
Sand and heathland
Chalkland
