A Place where nature unfolds
Hogchester has been largely given back to nature, with humans working alongside. Nature taking center stage and human activities at the margins.
Conservation, therapy and art are good companions on this journey.
Conservation, therapy and art are good companions on this journey.
Wild flower meadows
At the heart of the restoration are flower rich hay meadows. long established as part of the rhythm of the land these fields have a seasonal ebb and flow. They flourish in the spring and summer, are cut for hay in July and provide grazing during the autumn and early spring. Hogchester has 17 acres of wild flower meadow the seed from which is used for local restoration projects.
We have 'higher Stewardship' funding and have also been grant supported by Farming in Protected Landscapes to enable the purchase of a seed harvester. In partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust we gather and prepare seed from Hogchester and other ancient meadows in West Dorset to enable new sites to be prepared an sown. if you think you might have a suitable donnor or acceptor site then do get in touch.
Hogchester has charitable status for this work (reg 1078770)
At the heart of the restoration are flower rich hay meadows. long established as part of the rhythm of the land these fields have a seasonal ebb and flow. They flourish in the spring and summer, are cut for hay in July and provide grazing during the autumn and early spring. Hogchester has 17 acres of wild flower meadow the seed from which is used for local restoration projects.
We have 'higher Stewardship' funding and have also been grant supported by Farming in Protected Landscapes to enable the purchase of a seed harvester. In partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust we gather and prepare seed from Hogchester and other ancient meadows in West Dorset to enable new sites to be prepared an sown. if you think you might have a suitable donnor or acceptor site then do get in touch.
Hogchester has charitable status for this work (reg 1078770)
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Birding
There is a year round constant effort scheme to ring and track the bird life here. Brendan is a certified by the British Trust for ornithology and in 2021 4,600 birds were recorded in on Hogchester comprising of over 100 species.
There is a year round constant effort scheme to ring and track the bird life here. Brendan is a certified by the British Trust for ornithology and in 2021 4,600 birds were recorded in on Hogchester comprising of over 100 species.
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Rewilding
We have given nature a helping hand by digging ponds and planting copses and parkland style trees. Hogchester has 24 acres of land that is unmanaged apart from some free range Soay sheep and as winter grazing for a small herd of Islandic small horses.
We have given nature a helping hand by digging ponds and planting copses and parkland style trees. Hogchester has 24 acres of land that is unmanaged apart from some free range Soay sheep and as winter grazing for a small herd of Islandic small horses.
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Volunteering
There is a small but very dedicated team of fair weather volunteers that meet on a Monday afternoon for 2 hours of conservation. We mange the habitats for maximum diversity with a range of activates including pond management, planting, seed harvesting, gorse management and keeping the public footpaths clear. Always with tea and cake at the farm house afterwards. do get in touch if you would like to get involved. [email protected]
There is a small but very dedicated team of fair weather volunteers that meet on a Monday afternoon for 2 hours of conservation. We mange the habitats for maximum diversity with a range of activates including pond management, planting, seed harvesting, gorse management and keeping the public footpaths clear. Always with tea and cake at the farm house afterwards. do get in touch if you would like to get involved. [email protected]