Please select the habitat or topic that you are interested in finding out more about. Follow the links to get more information about each topic.
Agricultural Land
Buffering watercourses, ponds, and woodland with either grass margins, flower rich margins or hedges, tree lines and scrubby edges will help to reduce any erosion and run-off coming from the fields, as well as creating additional habitat
Grass Margins as Buffer Strips
Farm Wildlife have lots of useful information about farming with nature in mind on their website
The Environment Agency have produced this pollution prevention guide for farmers
Harvesting Success: Pollution-Prevention Rules for Farmers
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
BNG is now mandatory for all new developments in England (of a certain size and type). It requires a developer to assess the land prior to development and then assess what habitats will be lost using the BNG Metric tool and UKHab (a habitat identification criteria)
Community Actions
The Wildlife Trusts Wildlife Watch page has lots of activity guides and spotter sheets which are great for children’s activities
Surrey Wildlife Trust have pulled together a range of resources for Community Groups to utilise
If you require funding for your project, you may be eligible for a funding grant
Funding Opportunities for Community Groups
Planting
You can plant specifically to attract different pollinators
As our climate changes, consider planting species such as drought-tolerant plants that will be more resilient during drier spells
Adapting your Garden to a Changing Climate
Birds
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have compiled some information about providing nest boxes for different birds
The RSPB have a really useful page on the different types of bird boxes and advice on where they should be installed
Water
Mini ponds or bucket ponds are great for wildlife, don’t take up much space and are easy to create
Invertebrates
Building a log pile in a shaded corner will provide a home for a variety of invertebrates
Stag beetles are one of the largest insects in the UK. They are in decline across Europe but there are many simple things you can do to help
Build a Log Pile for Stag Beetles
Areas of bare ground will help to encourage ground-nesting solitary bees
How to Make a Habitat for Ground Nesting Bees
Build your own bug mansion and attract a multitude of creepy crawlies to your garden
Dead hedges are a fantastic habitat for a range of wildlife, including invertebrates
Equine
While land degradation on horse pastures is a common problem, there are ways in which this can be reversed. Equiculture is an organisation whose mission is to help horses and their owners have the best 'equine lifestyle' possible
This blog from Equiculture is particularly helpful in outlining how to increase the biodiversity of horse pastures
Rotational grazing involves allowing fields to rest in between periods of grazing which will give the grass time to recover and reduce the symptoms of overgrazing
Areas of bare ground can be restored by mulching using old hay. This provides a medium for vegetation growth as well as protecting the bare soil from further degradation. The mulch also helps to retain moisture and provides soil organic matter once decomposed.
The Magic of Mulching with Horses
The Equicentral System is a horse property design developed by Equiculture which incorporates rotational grazing, freedom of movement and encourages natural horse behaviours to create a biodiverse environment and a healthier lifestyle for the horses
World Horse Welfare have suggested you can meet your horse's needs with Friends, Forage and Freedom
Meadow Mania have provided an overview of the grasses and wildflowers that provide good grazing for horses
The Benefits of A Ryegrass-Free Horse Paddock
If you are grazing fields near a watercourse, you will need to be particularly mindful of minimising run-off and pollution risk, particularly in relation to manure
Reducing Pollution Risks and Managing Water
Overuse of wormers, particularly ivermectins, is causing widespread problems including resistance issues and environmental damage. Where possible, and if you don’t already, consider doing faecal egg counts instead of worming regularly and only using wormers when required
Floodplain Meadows
Floodplain Meadows create storage for water, reduce run-off, lock away carbon and provide a rich habitat for birds and insects
The Floodplain Meadow Partnership have provided the key management requirements for maintaining a species-rich floodplain meadow
Grassland
This Plantlife lawn guide provides some useful information and tips on managing a lawn for wildlife
Plantlife have a useful guide for meadow creation, including how to prepare the ground and how to sow the seeds
They also have tips on how to increase the number of wildflowers
Simple Ways to Increase the Number of Wildflowers
Yellow rattle can be really helpful when creating a meadow. This Plantlife guide provides some information on how to grow Yellow rattle
Grazing
Conservation grazing has a range of different benefits and can be done in a range of different ways
Hedgerows
The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) have provided information on hedgerow structures
PTES have also created this guide to the lifecycle of a hedgerow
Hedgerow Creation
Suffolk Wildlife Trust have produced a helpful introductory guide to hedgerow planting
Planting a Hedgerow for Wildlife
Natural England have compiled a guide which answers some of the most common questions about hedgerow planting
Hedgerow Planting: Answers to 18 Common Questions
The Woodland Trust offer funding for hedgerows through their MoreHedges scheme
Hedgerow Management
There is government guidance that should be followed before carrying out any work on hedgerows
Countryside Hedgerow Protection: Removing Hedgerows
Prior to any management works, it’s also a good idea to carry out a hedgerow survey
Suffolk Wildlife Trust have produced this helpful introductory guide to hedgerow management
Hedgelink provide a range of information and resources on how to manage a hedge
Managing a hedgerow well is incredibly important and Hedgelink goes through their top 12 management principles
The Complete Hedge Good Management Guide
PTES have shared their top tips for managing hedgerows
Invasive non-native species (INNS)
The Non-Native Invasive Species Secretariat have put together this guide all about non-native invasive species including what they are, how they spread and what you can do to help
Everyone can play a part in limiting the spread of non-native plants. This government guidance explains what you can do to limit the spread
How to Stop Invasive Non-Native Plants from Spreading
If you are located near a waterway, keep an eye out for non-native invasive species
Invasive Species to Look Out for on Waterways
Japanese knotweed is an invasive species that can cause a range of problems and it's control, growth and transportation is covered by UK Law
Natural Flood Management (NFM) on Farms
The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) have produced some information on NFM on farms
Next steps
If you want a full site walkover, ecological baseline surveys and other related services, you can get in touch with SWT Ecology Services to organise these at an additional cost
Orchards
There's a difference between traditional orchards (which are a priority habitat) and community orchards, depending on how they are planted and managed
The Orchard Project has lots of resources available on their website for the creation of community orchards, and they also offer a consultancy service to help you with surveys and design if you feel you would like some additional guidance
The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) also have an orchard project page with lots of helpful guides and resources including a range of practical guidance
Community Orchard Project South East (COPSE) is all about creating and enhancing orchards in and around Southern England for local community groups and provide networking opportunities for similar groups
Community Orchard Project South East (COPSE)
Ponds
Pond Creation
The Freshwater Habitats Trust have a really helpful guide for creating a small-scale pond, as well as lots of other advice and resources
Please note that planning permission may be required before any excavation begins, particularly if you plan to use machinery. We recommend discussing with your local planning authority prior to beginning the project
Does your Pond Creation Project Need Planning Permission?
Mini ponds and buckets ponds are great for wildlife but don't take up much space and are easy to create
The Freshwater Habitats Trust have created this helpful toolkit for creating a pond and put together some useful FAQs regarding pond creation and maintenance
Pond Management
The Freshwater Habitats Trust have created a suite of resources with various topics relating to pond management for biodiversity
Overly-shaded ponds may benefit from tree works to allow more light in
Always be vigilant for the presence and spread of invasive non-native species in/near your pond/watercourse
Scrapes
Digging shallow dips (scrapes) into the meadows could also provide additional water storage and fabulous seasonal habitat for insects, plants and birds. If this area falls within a floodplain, permission from the Environment Agency would be required to create the scrape
Excavating Scrapes and Shallow Wetland Features
Scrub
Surveying
The Field Studies Council sell ID guides which can help with developing ID skills
You can use apps such as Seek to help with identification
If you would like to submit your species records to the local records centre, you can get in touch with Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre
Records can also be submitted via iRecord where they can be verified, and this data will also be sent to the records centre
We have a number of Wildlife Recording Kits which are free to borrow and include a variety of species surveying equipment such as moth traps, camera traps, bat detectors and ID guides. These are available to borrow from our Pirbright HQ, Godalming and Guildford Library of Things.
Woodland
Woodland Creation
The English Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) is a funding stream from the Forestry Commission aimed at supporting woodland creation and tree planting across England
England Woodland Creation Offer
The Forestry Commission have published a helpful guide for those planning new woodland
A Guide to Planning New Woodland in England
Woodland Management
The Wildlife Trusts have compiled an overview of the standard woodland management principles and techniques
How to Manage a Woodland for Wildlife
This Forestry Commission guide outlines the different woodland management practices and the reasons for them
Coppicing will help to create structural and age diversity and increase light levels within woodlands
The National Coppice Federation have created this guide for landowners and managers on coppice restoration and management
Coppice Restoration and Management: A Guide for Landowners and Managers
Veteran trees are incredibly ecologically valuable but can sometimes be hard to spot
A Guide to Recognising Veteran Trees
Veteranisation of trees is a technique used to accelerate the development of valuable habitats that are typically found in older trees such as fissures, crevices and decay.
Dead wood will provide food for bats, woodpeckers, and many invertebrates such as beetles
The Woodland Trust host the Ancient Tree Inventory, where you can see a map of all ancient trees currently recorded and you can also submit your own ancient trees to the map
English Woodlands Forestry Ltd. have created this introductory guide for landowners who are looking to actively their woodland
The Royal Forestry Society have put together an introductory guide to woodland management
Creating a management plan for your woodland will give you a structured plan to help you manage the woodland effectively
Create a Woodland Management Plan
Be aware that you may need to apply for a felling licence if you are felling over a set volume of trees
Tree Felling Licence: When you Need to Apply
It is important to consider European Protected Species when carrying out any work on the site
Habitats and Species of Principal Importance in England
Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s) can be placed on a tree which provides importance for the local area
Tree Preservation Orders and Trees in Conservation Areas
Some woodland areas may be designated as Ancient Woodland
If you are opening up the woodland to public/user access you will need to think about the safety of your trees
Trees can be impacted by pests and diseases and need to be monitored