Wildlife and biodiversity gains at BGS

As part of our commitment to increase biodiversity on the BGS sites, we have undertaken a range of initiatives. The majority of these initiatives currently relate to our Keyworth site in Nottinghamshire as we have fewer limitations there, but we’re hoping to roll out similar measures at our other sites wherever we can.

Anyone visiting the Keyworth site will see these changes as soon as you walk through the gate. The best of these initiatives is the new ‘no-mow’ commitment, with around 70 per cent of grass now being left to grow during the summer to promote wild flowers, bring in more insects and of course the bigger animals that feed on them. Our meadows stretch from the front car park area, around the south of the site and continue on the rear of James Hutton and William Smith buildings, to give a full wraparound meadow feel. We are running butterfly transects and some moth trapping, as well as monitoring the larger animals on site.

This initiative has been helped along enormously by the BGS Estates team, who have been very supportive with our ideas and liaised with the grounds team.

We’ve recently installed bird feeders and bird baths to encourage birds onto site, which has of course also pleased the squirrels! We have a lunchtime Wilding Group, which meets a few times a year,and we’ve used this group to shape some of the areas which we’d like to make richer in wildlife but also richer to the staff. One such area is our pond, which now has a clear path running through the wild areas, improvements to the pond itself, planting of new spring flowers, cutting back of brambles, and opening the ‘secret garden — perfect for a lunchtime retreat into nature!

Part of the programme of work is monitoring, as it’s really important to measure and plot wildlife improvements, so that we can say whether the measures we’ve put in place are working, or if we have to change things. We’ve collaborated with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, who have been instrumental in helping us decide where to put our owl and bird boxes. They have completed a bat survey for us and we hope to continue working with them to make further improvements.

We recently ran an evening event looking at the nature onsite after dark. Steve Thorpe ran the moth trap, with NWT completing a bat survey. Chris Rochelle was able to use the infrared camera to see what he could find scurrying around in the meadows. Mice and voles made up most of the sightings, but he also found and photographed a fantastic hedgehog. We’ve recently installed five hedgehog houses, so hopefully these will be well used over the winter! We also heard young tawny owl by the front gate. Our night-time cameras have also picked up a fox in the Hanlon House wildlife area.

All in all things are really positive on site for our wildlife and, with more people back in the office soon recording their sightings, we’ll start to see a real improvement!

About the author

Stephen Thorpe

Geospatial data specialist and lead driller

BGS Keyworth

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