Reach for Turtle Doves Project

BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) records show that the breeding farmland index list of birds, have declined by more than 55% in the past 50 years, with loss of habitat a significant contributing factor. Turtle dove, one of Britain’s most iconic species is now listed as globally threatened and is the UK’s fastest declining species, with its breeding population falling by 99% to only 2100 pairs in 2022. The corn bunting population has fallen by 83%, and grey partridge by 92%. This project is primarily focused on developing habitats for these wintering and breeding farmland bird populations.

This project was centered around ‘24 Acres’, a parcel of land located just outside Reach village, and an adjoining 15-acre parcel of land (separated by ditch) that was acquired by the National Trust in 2023. Consultation with the RSPB's Operation Turtle Dove (a national program set up to target habitat creation for the recovery of the species), identified the high nesting potential of the site for turtle doves due to the woodland area planted by the Reach community. Designs were then developed addressing the absence of suitable foraging and drinking habitat, as well as further enhancing the nesting and wintering habitat through the creation of four UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Priority habitats.

On the 15-acre compartment, we have sown a wild bird cover crop on the southern half to provide spring forage for breeding farmland birds. The northern half has been sown with a grassland seed mix as we look to establish a flower-rich meadow to benefit the invertebrate populations, as well as skylarks. 5,400 saplings have been planted along the borders of the field to create a combined total of 600 metres of hedgerow providing further nectar and pollen sources for our invertebrate populations, as well as wintering and nesting habitat for wildlife. It also has the added benefit of helping to screen out part of the neighboring solar farm. A perimeter fence has also been erected, which will allow us to introduce light density summer grazing for future grassland management.

On the ‘24 Acres’ compartment, a new pond has been excavated and will be fed by a nearby chalk spring, providing fantastic additional habitat for aquatic invertebrates and plants. The pond has been designed to have gentle sloping profile, providing easy access to drinking water for birds. A couple of sections along a steep sided ditch running through the middle of the field, have also been reprofiled to have shallow edges, creating additional drinking points, as well as diversity in the habitat structure to benefit the aquatic and marginal ditch vegetation.

Finally, a culvert (crossing point) has been installed across the ditch, connecting the two fields. This has allowed us to open a new permissive footpath between ‘24 Acres’ and High Town Drove, providing a green access route between the villages of Burwell and Reach. We hope in time, that residents and visitors will be able to enjoy this path whilst being surrounded by a cacophony of noise, from buzzing invertebrates to the iconic purring of the turtle dove.