Biodiversity
Citizen Science & Biodiversity
As guardians of Gravetye Estate, we will protect habitats for endangered species and improve biodiversity across 637 acres of farmland and forest.
Scientists from University of Sussex – Nature Sense have installed state of the art biodiversity monitoring stations to capture data about wildlife within our fields and woodland. Light Detection and Ranging drones are building up detailed 3-D models about our vegetation and woodland to help map our ecosystems and carbon capture.
The Peoples’ Trust for Endangered Species confirmed that we have populations of Hazel Dormouse in our coppice and Sussex Ornithological experts record data about our birds.
We involve volunteers of all ages Citizen Science studies – monthly data is collected on the health of the River Medway and the wildlife it supports through Project Ripple Effect.
We have undertaken earthworm surveys; butterfly counts and fungi surveys with scientists and experts.
The collection of data is the cornerstone to making the right decisions about how we manage our landscape and share it with visitors.
Forest Resilience
Changing climate presents a host of challenges such as unpredictable wind and rainfall and temperature fluctuations. There has been an explosion in tree diseases including fungi, parasites, and pests. As forestry experts, we actively manage these threats to contain, reduce and stop their spread.
We are partnering with Forest Research to plant an experimental plot in a 1-hectare plot with saplings grown from seeds sourced from different European provinces. The results will help inform future climate change adaptation strategies.
Sadly, we have been forced to fell thousands of diseased ash and spruce trees. We are planting disease resilient tree species and involving volunteers of all ages and abilities in this work.
Our woodland can help tackle climate change by capturing carbon from the atmosphere whilst providing a place that improves the diversity of flora and fauna.
Wildlife Ponds
Ponds play a critical role in improving and maintaining biodiversity, supporting more species than any other freshwater habitat. Healthy networks of ponds aid the movement of wetland species around the countryside, supporting nature corridors that allow a whole host of species to co-exist.
Ponds were important when William Robinson owned the Gravetye Estate, as a source of water for both animals and humans. Until the middle of the twentieth century, ponds were a common feature of the UK landscape and, as a critical source of stored water, were routinely maintained by farmers and landowners.
With changes in agriculture – including more intensive farming and improved irrigation – pond numbers declined rapidly and over half a million ponds have been lost in the UK over the past 100 years. The ponds that remain are often neglected and in very poor condition.
The diversity of life supported by ponds is remarkable and includes amphibians, freshwater invertebrates, birds, bats, small mammals, and flora.
We have partnered with The Newt Conservation Partnership to rejuvenate a pond next to Lower Lake and three ponds further downstream to encourage Great Crested Newts and other wildlife to this area.
Wildflower Meadows
In the UK, we have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 1930’s, with an accompanying marked and devastating impact on our native pollinators, particularly the 250 plus species of bee which call the UK home. It’s critically important that we all do our part to restore these environments. The habitats that wildflower meadows provide for pollinators are vital part in supporting the natural ecosystem and preventing its decline.
Wildflower meadows are also important habitats that support small mammals, birds, bats, and a plethora of invertebrate species. They also store carbon – a wildflower meadow can store 30% more carbon than a flowerless meadow.
As farming patterns change, several fields around the estate are passing back into the management and control of the charity. We have partnered with Ashdown Forest Conservators to graze fields to create pollinator friendly, species rich, native wildflower meadows.
You can expect to see these meadows gradually springing into life over the coming years. In the meantime, we’re also creating pollinator friendly areas, including bee and butterfly banks and bug hotels.
Hedgerow Improvement
Sadly, some 118,000 miles of hedgerow has been lost to intensive farming and urban development since 1950. This negatively impacts nature as hedgerows provide vital food and shelter for many species of birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, and reptiles. As well as being wildlife corridors, linking woodland habitats, they also play a role in preventing soil erosion, reducing flooding, and capturing carbon.
The hedgerows across Gravetye Estate are in quite poor condition and have, historically, been maintained so that they are short, thin, and with too many gaps.
We have set plans in motion to manage our existing hedgerows more proactively – making our contribution to building back this important and disappearing habitat.
A native hedgerow was planted in 2022 following The High Weald Landscape Trail by Gravetye Manor’s historic wildflower meadow. The following year we planted a hedgerow by Main Drive and winter 25/26 will see us planting 1,500 saplings by the public footpath below Home Farm.
Conservation Management
Conservation management is strictly adhered to alongside the commercial forestry operation on Gravetye Estate. This work is continuous and involves tasks such as removal of invasive plant species, deer and squirrel management, cyclical strimming and brashing of rides, coppicing, and tree planting.
Our regular weekday and weekend volunteering sessions make an important contribution to public access and nature. Volunteers have been responsible for removing hundreds of metres of old, rusty, and dangerous barbed wire, planting thousands of trees, construction of dry hedges and the development of wildlife areas.
We are keen to host bespoke corporate volunteering days and to nurture partnerships with local schools and organisations. Find out more about how you can volunteer here.
Public Access
Our goal is to make the estate accessible to people for quiet enjoyment, so people can gain the benefits from time spent in the natural environment; and we will continue to invest in high quality, stable path surfaces. The ‘blue trail’ (2.6 kms circuit) has been improved so that it is accessible to most people.
Our trail map can be found here. Click here
Please note that dogs must be kept on leads around Lower Lake for the protection of wildlife.
Schools and Education
We think that it is vital for children and young people to understand why biodiversity matters and how they can play their part in helping wildlife and mitigating Climate Change.
We are working in collaboration with local schools and their students to provide hands-on biodiversity and ecology education.
To date, we have collaborated with – Sackville Secondary School, Imberhorne Secondary School, Estcots Primary School, St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Philpots Manor School (SEN), Lingfield College, Pound Hill Infants Academy, Brantridge School (SEN) – and many uniformed scout and guiding groups.
