A year ago, Downicary in Devon was, in Chris Packham's words, a plain, flat, green field. Today, the 55-acre site looks very different.
A system of ponds and wetland areas has been dug into the land, filling with water over winter and attracting wildfowl and waders. As the water level dropped back in summer, dragonflies, damselflies and marshland plants appeared. Parts of the grassland have also been left long and allowed to flower.
The changes are part of a wider rewilding project involving specialists, ecologists and conservation partners. Tree planting has also been a major part of the work, with 3,500 trees and shrubs sourced from the Woodland Trust going into the ground across the 55-acre site.
A year on, monitoring has recorded otters, kingfishers and beavers along the river, alongside wildlife settling into the new ponds and grassland.
From a flat field to a new wetland
When Packham visited Downicary a year ago, he described it as a plain, flat, green field. Since then, the landscape has been reshaped to create a wider mix of habitats.
The new ponds and wetlands filled with water during winter, attracting wildfowl and waders. As the water level fell during summer, dragonflies, damselflies and marshland plants appeared.
The grassland has changed too. Some areas have been left longer and allowed to flower.
Tree planting is continuing across the site. Black poplar is being planted alongside alder, which is thriving. Aspen was also planted partly as an experiment, and the results have been encouraging.
Monitoring has recorded otters, kingfishers and beavers along the river.
3,500 trees and shrubs across 55 acres
In February, local primary school children joined Packham at Downicary to help plant part of the larger tree planting programme.
The programme involves 3,500 trees and shrubs sourced from the Woodland Trust. The planting has been divided across three habitat types.
Wet woodland and riparian planting uses willow, aspen and alder, planted densely to extend and connect riverside woodland.
In the drier areas, oak, birch and rowan are being planted to create wood pasture and expand existing wooded patches.
The third element is bund planting, with flowering shrubs including blackthorn, hawthorn, spindle and dog rose. These are intended to help reduce bank erosion and provide forage for birds and insects.
Packham said, “Planting trees works on many levels. Obviously, biodiversity, carbon capture, flood mitigation, but also crucially in terms of personal empowerment. So when young people plant trees it instigates not only a clear connection with nature, but also a significant investment in a future. Planting trees is all about hope,” as quoted by Ecotalk.
