Habitat management at Colby

Colby wildflower meadow and habitat creation in the streams

Colby’s a haven for flora and fauna, supporting a wide range of habitats including grassland, ponds and woodland.

Helping nature

We want to keep it that way, so our team of gardeners and volunteers are always hard at work making sure they remain in tip top condition.

We allow the grass in the meadow to grow tall, only cutting it when the flowers have set seed. This means that it's rich in wild flowers and butterflies., and you might also discover field mice, voles, frogs and toads.

Across the site you'll often notice piles of logs and some trees left where they fall. Again, this is purposeful to encourage wildlife and act as a habitat for insects and spiders.

" We don’t fight nature, we work with it. Wildlife needs long grass, piles of vegetation, leaves and the like. It’s about learning to enjoy the unexpected and encouraging flora and fauna to call Colby home. "
- Steve Whitehead, Head Gardener