09/09/2025
Another exciting project here on our small farm is a pond for wildlife supported and funded through the Burrenbeo Trust 'Hare's corner project'.
We even didn't need a liner as the thick layer of clay is preventing the water from disappearing into the ground. It just needs some finishing off with some rocks, piles of natural materials and marsh-loving plants which grows already in the fields around. Then we will hopefully attract even more wildlife and insects, like dragon and damselflies ....
Especially marginalized land like ours, surrounded by marsh and bog boosts multiple 'hare's corners'. For example our untouched frog corner or the area where the devils bit scabious grows and the rare marsh fritillary butterfly breeds.
This particular spot is within an experiential area where a forest food garden is coming along nicely. We planted pocket forests of native trees like willow, alder, spindle, hawthorn, rowan and guelder rose along with rosehip, currant bushes, rhubarb and various herbs. Small beds of vegatables produce spuds, carrots, onions, cabbages and Jerusalem artichokes.
Maybe it wasn't just the lack of machinery but more so the understanding of their land which let the 'old farmer' allow wildlife to thrive and the understanding that by altering these 'hare's corner's' biodiversity is being reduced for just gaining a few square-metres of more 'profitable land'.
Farming for Nature Burrenbeo Trust
