Volunteers get stuck into bracken clearance

It's that time of year again! One of our biggest conservation tasks is controlling the bracken on our sand dunes. Each year we cut back the bracken at selected areas of the site. This encourages the rarer plants, including pyramidal orchids, and their associated insect life.

The habitat enhancement should be well appreciated by the hundreds of school children who will join us on wildlife hunts on the sand dunes next year.

Much of this work would be impossible without volunteers, so thanks to all those who are taking part! If you are interested in volunteering please call 01792 386291, or email info@stmadoc.co.uk

Reptile survey yields loads of adders!

The reptile population continues to thrive on our sand dunes. In our latest survey, we found nine adders and five slow worms. These normally elusive animals can be attracted by a piece of roofing felt, which creates a warm microclimate in which they like to shelter.

Adders and slow worms give birth to live young, and this may explain why most of the animals we found were female. They may have a more urgent need to keep warm during pregnancy.

Our ongoing program of habitat management benefits these animals by maintaining a varied habitat, with plenty of places to hide and open areas for basking and hunting.