The many gardens in this region are largely on calcareous or neutral soils, and many are close to rich natural wildlife habitats.
Our level of knowledge on the wildlife of gardens in this region is relatively low, and some significant finds can be anticipated.
If you spot something that you want to tell us about, email: gardenswildlifesurvey@nationaltrust.org.uk with details of what, where and when...
Here is a taster of what you might expect to spot:
Mottisfont
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
Much wildlife comes into the gardens from the River Test and also from the nearby woods.
Insects:
- Butterflies regularly seen include White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary.
- Purple Hairstreak breeds on the oak trees and there is a good Holly Blue population.
- Dragonflies hunt over the gardens, including White-legged Damselfly and Emperor dragonfly.
- The large old trees are probably good for dead wood insects and moths.
Birds:
- Birds include Spotted Flycatcher.
Cliveden
© NTPL / Ian Shaw
More Pleasure Grounds than formal garden but nonetheless of significance for wildlife
The Grounds:
- The grasslands leading down to the Thames have good chalk grassland features, and there are also interesting old lawns.
- There are also some interesting ponds and a water garden.
Insects:
- The butterfly fauna is quite rich, including Common Blue, Brown Argus, Marbled White, Gatekeeper and Ringlet, with visiting species such as Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell.
- There is a large population of the scarce mining bee Macropis europaea which takes nectar from Yellow Loosestife flowers on the edges of the ponds.
- Several specimens of the scarce wasp Tiphia femorata were found on Angelica flowers here in 2003.
- The walled gardens support a good population of the scarce little mining bee Lasioglossum smeathmanellum.
Ham House
© NTPL / Stephen Robson
Insects:
- A colony of a species of paper wasp, Polistes dominulus, new to Britain was found here in 2003! This is a harmless little black and yellow wasp with dangling yellow legs.
- Some other interesting species of bee and wasp have also been recorded, notably Andrena denticulate, Sphecodes reticulates, Lasioglossum malachurum and the Bee Wolf Philanthes traingulum.
- The rare bee-mimic hoverfly Calicera aurata (= aenea), which breeds in rot holes in old trees, was also found in 2003, along with the hornet-mimic hoverfly Volucella inanis.
Mice
- Dormouse is known from the Nuttery, you may be able to find their eating marks on empty hazel nut shells.
Birds:
- There is a large, noisy and showy colony of Ring-necked Parakeet.
- Green and Greater Spotted Woodpecker are regularly seen.
The Vyne
© NTPL / Andrea Jones
Extensive garden with flower beds, fruit, old walls, open grassland with a varied mowing regime, old parkland and a large lake.
- There are long-established water quality issues in the Lake which are being addressed.
- The narrow belt of marginal vegetation along the lake is valuable.
- A new wetland has been created in fields just upstream of the lake.
- The nearby ancient woods are very rich in wildlife.
Insects:
- A rich garden, frequented by a broad range of butterflies, including Marbled White, Ringlet, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Small Copper and Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak from the nearby woods.
- A large number of moths have been recorded.
- Hoverflies include the local seepage specialists Orthonevra brevicornis and Ripponesia splendens, and the local wood edge species Pipiza lugubris.
- Bees include Bombus rupestris, Lasioglossum smeathmanellum and Sphecodes niger.
- Roesel’s Bush-cricket also occurs.
Fungi:
- A good range of wax cap, other grassland and wood decay fungi have been found.
- The North Lawn is good for CHEG fungi.
Birds:.
- Regular sightings of Mistle Thrush and Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
- Lapwing has been breeding in the new wetland.
Bats:
- A good place for bats, including Noctule.
Stowe
© NTPL / Rupert Truman
Technically an 18th-century designed landscape, rather than a garden. The main Pleasure Grounds are included here as they do support a significant flora and fauna. The main valley grassland and many of the grassy slopes support quite a rich native flora, including some of the more common orchids.
Bats:
Six species are recorded as roosting and / or breeding in buildings and / or trees in the gardens.
Trees:
- The ancient trees support some interesting insects (mainly dead wood beetles) and some fungi associated with old broad-leaved trees.
Insects:
- The lake and lake margins support some good dragonflies, notably Ruddy Darter.
- Some local dry grassland bees and flies occur.
Hit List
We are particularly interested in discovering more about the following gardens:
Ascott, Cliveden, Waddesdon, Hinton Ampner, Mottisfont, Sandham Memorial Chapel (of great importance for wax cap and other grassland fungi), West Green House, Mottistone Manor, Buscot and Greys Court.
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