Our Rare & Endangered Species

Creatures in decline across the South East have found a haven at Moat Farm.

Our Wildlife.

Alongside our longhorn cattle and sheep who borrow our farm for grazing, we have Turtle Doves, 23 Nightingale territories, several pairs of breeding barn owl, tawny owl, kestrels, warblers and finches. We have recently found not only wild honey bees and bumble bees but also rare Long-horned bees foraging in our field-edge brambles. Grass snakes and slow worms are regularly seen, along with great crested newt and toads in the early spring. We have noted 26 species of butterfly around the farm and its woodlands to date. Marbled White are numerous alongside Ringlet, Meadow Browns, Small Coppers, Blues and Skippers. Grizzled Skippers were seen regularly until the last two summers giving rise to concern. Purple Hairstreak can be found in the tops of the oak trees. Other woodland butterflies include Silver Washed Fritillary and White Admiral. Dormice and Harvest Mice are regularly encountered. Photos: Richard Pettett

Blue Tailed Damselfly - ©Richard Pettett

Downy Emerald Dragonfly - ©Richard Pettett

“Our 300 acres of untouched meadows and ancient woodland have become a haven of exciting wildlife and nature.”

— Jan Bax

Wild flowers.

Our wildflowers include Common Spotted Orchid together with significant numbers of Sedges, Bugle, Trefoils and Vetches. Yellow Rattle has also rapidly reestablished and there is abundant Knapweed, Fleabane, and other high nectar producing plants which host clouds of butterflies on hot summer days. We also have Green-Winged Orchid and Adder’s Tongue Fern. Early Purple orchids are also seen in small colonies across the farm and woodland, and Tormentil (favoured by Turtle Doves). Other plants of interest include Devil’s Bit Scabious, Meadow Vetchling, Pepper Saxifrage, Tufted Vetch, Agrimony and Cow Wheat. Water quality is indicated by the presence of Three Lobed Water Crowfoot and Water Violet.