Very much a countryside region, though it does have a scatter of delightful gardens, many of which remain undiscovered for wildlife.
If you spot something that you want to tell us about, email: gardenswildlifesurvey@nationaltrust.org.uk with details of what, where and when.
Here are some of the highlights of the area:
Anglesey Abbey
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
One of the Trust’s best wildlife gardens. The part known as South Park holds one of the best areas of neutral grassland in Cambridgeshire.
Flora
Since mowing was relaxed, there are extensive shows of wildflowers in spring and high summer, including:
- Five species of orchid (Common Twayblade, Bee, Common Spotted and Pyramidal)
- Adderstongue fern
- Ladies Bedstraw
- Yellow Rattle and knapweeds and scabiouses
- 22 species of wild grasses occur
Insects
The insect life is rich.
- 25 species of butterfly occur, including breeding populations of Common Blue, Small Copper and Brown Argus and Small and Essex Skippers.
- 70 species of hoverfly have been recorded, though it is likely that some of the rarities no longer occur (since Dutch Elm Disease took out the old elms).
- Southern Hawker dragonfly is often abundant.
- A good range of solitary bees and wasps have been recorded, many of them nesting in the banks surrounding the ornamental pond (which has too many fish in it for newts).
Bats and birds
- Six species of bat live in the house and grounds.
- Natterer’s Bat can be heard by day inside a hollow ash tree in the park in summer.
- Spotted Flycatcher, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl nest in the grounds.
Felbrigg Hall
© NTPL / Marianne Majerus
This organic walled garden adjoining ancient woodland and parkland looks great for wildlife, but as yet we have little information.
Insects
- There are excellent nectar sources for butterflies, hoverflies and bees, and there are many mason bee holes in the walls.
- The rare rove beetle Phyllodrepa puberula breeds in old bird nests in the dovecote.
Poultry
- Bantams and chickens work on pest control in the kitchen garden areas. Unfortunately they have received the attentions of a family of Stoats…
Blickling Hall
© NTPL / Nick Meers
Another promising wildlife garden on which we would like to receive information.
Birds and butterflies:
- The woodland and shrubberies are great for song birds, with a significant dawn chorus.
- Purple Hairstreak butterfly breeds on the oaks, and Holly Blue also occurs, along with many standard garden butterflies.
Water life:
- Great Crested and Smooth newts breed in the ponds.
- The lake is not formally part of the garden but is renowned for its wildlife:
- Great Crested Grebe and Egyptian Goose breed.
- A sizeable breeding population of Reed Warbler.
- Norfolk Hawker dragonfly is intermittently recorded.
- Scarce Chaser used to be resident.
- Daubenton’s Bat hunts over the water.
Hit List
We are particularly interested in discovering more about the following gardens:
Peckover, Wimpole, Shaw’s Corner, Oxburgh Hall, Ickworth and Melford.
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