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 is due to commence in the spring of 2023. The area will be monitored annually and updates will be available in due course.

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 an interim report will be available by 2024.