Methods
Survey work of the meadowland and hedgerows commenced in fine weather on 25/05/2022 and ended 01/06/2022, prior to the hay crop. A canvas bag was used to sweep vegetation and the samples were sorted in the bag and on a tray. A single visit was made to each plot. A vacuum survey was not carried out, but this would have gained additional results. From late autumn to spring 2020- 2021 the ponds were visited once and sampled with a pond net. Included are 6 taxa carried over from earlier pond surveys as the habitat is unchanged. The meadowland survey missed the high summer and autumn invertebrate activity, but it is a useful survey in that all of the other meadowland surveys in the Elton Reservoir Basin have been carried out in the autumn. The survey represents a fraction of what could be present. A handful of recent records are supplied by wildlife photographers.
The site
The site includes ponds and semi-improved grassland with hedges. Higher Spen Moor Farm has diversified some hedges with additional planting. Even those grasslands which have been ploughed and reseeded have abundant Red Clover and Buttercup and insect life is notable on sunny summer days.

Published 24/01/2024