Silverlake Conservation and Community Fund

The funding has lead to exciting developments at Broadmayne.

The school organised a family gardening weekend to clear the nettles and overgrown branches and install planters and trellis in the school grounds.

The school pond area was very overgrown. It wasn't practical for pond dipping and was suffering from neglect.

The pond area was transformed by:

• clearing an eco-friendly woodchip path that leads pupils down to the pond
• installing benches so that students can take trays and equipment down to the area

This helps to support learning about pond habitats. Pond-dipping is now part of the curriculum for every class.

A wild-meadow area was planted using bee-bombs to encourage a wildlife habitat on the school field. This is not only beautiful to look at, but supports learning. Children can look at bugs in their habitat and take part in bug-sweeps etc.

Butterfly Conservation have used the funding from their award to survey the heath. Their survey has identified the presence of a single larva of this rare species.

They now plans to introduce a management plan to support the habitat for the moth, with the aim that Silverlake will be able to become a local stronghold for this rare species.

They have prepared a report on the Dingy Mocha Moth to document:

• the findings of the survey work
• monitoring arrangements
• plans for habitat management

The fund was immediately put to use, and they installed the features by March 2019!

The pond came to life in 2019 to 2020, with the introduction of some frogspawn and appropriate plants.

Reception and year 1 pupils have been using the pond as part of their studies of the science curriculum.

The pond will mature in the future. The decking installed will allow the children to safely pond dip and make observations of the changing pond life.

We will post the school's annual biodiversity update to show improvements within the site once available.

The study will help to inform the restoration work for Silverlake and the adjoining areas. These are currently subject to mineral workings.

DERC have compiled an interim report which maybe of interest.

The final report by DERC can be found here.

The placement will help new trainee Seb to:

• develop skills in countryside and wildlife conservation
• access management, public engagement, health and safety and media

You can find details of what he has learnt so far from this update provided by Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Read Seb's final report.

The area selected for funding occurred in between two areas of heathland that are being restored through targeted and specific management. Removing this section of the invasive plant will be vital to connect these habitat patches and remove the barriers for wildlife to colonise the area.

The bird hide is ideally positioned overlooking the school pond and developing orchard providing the opportunity to observe the wildlife and birds. The use of the hide will encourage the pupils to develop their understanding and appreciation of wildlife that occur locally. In addition to this, it provides enrichment of the curriculum, development of sustainability learning and the importance of stewardship of the environment.

This management will encourage the colonisation of reptiles and invertebrates complimenting the management at Thorncombe Woods. This work commenced in the spring of 2023 and was completed by the end of 2023. The area will be monitored annually and updates will be available in due course.

The project aims to improve an existing hedgerow, undertake tree planting, the creation of a new hedgerow and wildlife refuge pools, with the erection of Wildlife boxes placed around the site to compliment, and support local initiatives through management for the benefit of specific Section 41 species. Some of these species would be the Common toad, Grass snake, Hedgehog and some species of bat.

Their project intends to enhance biodiversity and develop resilient habitats to support and restore local initiatives through management of an SNCI and nearby site supporting Section 41 species. 

This project aimed to increase the biodiversity of pasture and woodland by improving the corridors between the intensively farmed and designated sites in the local area for both landscape & biodiversity benefit.

Trees were planted in a fenced off copse, wildlife boxes erected in the cleared woodland, wildflower mix was sown and an open day held for the local parishioners to visit and enjoy the wildlife.

The main objective of the Scheme was to educate and engage school children with nature, farming and food. This was achieved through carefully designed practical activities suited to a KS2 curriculum. This objective was measured by teacher, volunteer and student feedback that has all been received well.  

In total, 119 children from three schools took part in the award scheme, with the help from 25 volunteers including seven farmers assisting over the three days. The Silverlake donation was used to purchase materials for schools within the Silverlake catchment. This included the cost of coach travel, catering for the school and additional resources for Silverlake schools. 

Their project is to survey 7 SNCIs (Sites of Nature Conservation Interest), that had not been surveyed since 2013 or earlier, to provide details of habitats and their condition, as well as botanical species lists.

The main objective of the project was to update information on SNCIs providing data for site assessment, information on change, and contribute to our knowledge of the Silverlake area. It will also feed into ongoing work to update the ecological network mapping and provide management advice to landowners.

The project has met its original aims, with 7 sites surveyed, reports written, sent to the SNCI Panel and to be shared with landowners/tenants, records added to DERC’s databases and habitats mapped. The highlight of this project was the discovery of scarce and rare species in locations where they had not previously been recorded.

The project aimed to:

• restore a raised water table in the mire to encourage Sphagnum expansion/ peat formation
• reduce the height of Molina tussocks to encourage Sphagnum colonisation
• removal of the conifer crop and areas of natural regeneration to reduce the mire drying out

Objective of the restoration project were to: 

• fell trees (mature conifer) and natural regen around the mire extent to reduce it drying out
• interrupt minor drain lines with peat plugs, to raise the water table within the mire
• infill drain lines within the open mire using existing bankside spoil
• machine mulch the densely perched Molinia tussocks
• interrupt ridge and furrow topography to reduce runoff and to create an evenly distributed water table 

This study aims to increase knowledge of bat populations in the local area surrounding the Silverlake development. Results of the tri-annual monitoring over a five-year period will enable more targeted mitigation interventions in the future.

This project is due to continue until 2026 and the interim report for 2022-23 is available here.

The main aims and objectives of the project is to compliment the current management and community involvement of the LNR. This involves a specific focus on developing the ponds’ biomass and protecting its importance in the wider landscape as a rich bank of species. With a better understanding of its hydrology, ecology and how its heritage legacy needs to be conserved the future of the pond can be better protected.

This project is due to continue until March 2025 and the 2024 interim report is available here. 

The main objective of the project is to co-exist alongside several other bat box projects across Dorset where long term schemes are already in existence. Similarly, boxes will be monitored monthly during the bat season. There are nearby records of rare species eg. Natterers, Bechsteins and Grey long-eared bats, and this project will provide long term habitat and safe roosting opportunities for all bats, which ultimately aids their continued conservation.

This project is due to continue until 2028 and the interim reports are available here. 

The main objective of the Scheme is to educate and engage school children with nature, farming and food. This was achieved through carefully designed practical activities suited to a KS2 curriculum. 

This project is due to continue until August 2025 when the report will be available here. 

The main objective of the project is to increase the number of wet refuges for wildlife in the area. In the adjacent woodland there are two existing ponds, with their own character. The scrape will store water during heavy rainfall events and will naturally dry out to a small pool in winter. This will provide a habitat for Great Crested Newts and other native wildlife.

This project is due to continue until 2025 when the report will be available here. 

The main objective of the project is to support farms within the Winfrith Newburgh and adjacent parishes to make steps towards Net Zero whilst maintaining essential connectivity for biodiversity on farms.

This project is due to continue until December 2025 interim report is available here. 

Dorset Environmental Records Centre (DERC) were awarded £4,990 in April 2024 for their project to continue the monitoring of SNCIs (Sites of Nature Conservation Interest) to provide details of habitats and their condition, as well as botanical species lists. This project is to include 5 existing SNCIS’s and 2 new.

The main objective of the  project is to update the current  information on SNCIs providing data for site assessment, information on change, and will contribute to our knowledge of the Silverlake area. It will also feed into ongoing work to update the ecological network mapping and provide management advice to landowners.

This project is now completed and the interim report is available here.