FARM WILDLIFE

West Country Wool and the Natural World

New Mills Farm is situated within UNESCO's North Devon Biosphere reserve, which includes many special landscapes and wildlife areas. As nature lovers ourselves we try and encourage as much flora and fauna as we can, although, it must be said, the midges can be a little tiresome at times! By carefully managed grazing we are increasing the plant diversity of our pastures, which will hopefully attract more invertebrates and their predator species. This page shows a few photos we've taken of some of the life we share our farm with.

Dark Bush Cricket A common cricket found in rough grassland and hedgerows	Bird's-foot Trefoil A food plant for Common Blue butterfly larva.
Meadowsweet Love the scent of Meadowsweet	Brimstone Moth The caterpillars of this moth feed on blackthorn and hawthorn
Grey Squirrel Not everyone is a fan of these critters but they keep us amused at times

Dor Beetle These dung beetles play a vital role helping to clean up after livestock	Water Crow-foot These flower in the river from April till August
Foxgloves A lovely patch of foxgloves	Mullein Moth Caterpillars When these caterpillars pupate they can remain buried under the soil for several years before emerging as moths
Wild Flowers Common Centaury and Bird's-foot Trefoil	Bumblebee Bumblebee on Bird's-foot Trefoil
Speedwell A dainty flower, easily overlooked - not sure which type this one is	Red Admiral Usually a summer migrant they do also hibernate here
Fish survey After electro-fishing the fish are anaesthetised, measured and then returned to the river	Wild Flowers Foxgloves and ox-eye daisies
Wren A little bird with powerful song	Slow Worms We leave old carpet on a sunny bank and the slow worms love it.
Female Mallard This duck was looked after since it was a tiny duckling, eventually going off to join the wild ducks on the river	Comma and Small Tortoiseshell The caterpillars of both these species feed on nettles
Knapweed Bumblebee and honeybee sharing a knapweed flower