Ludgershall Habitat Bank

These floodplain meadows were once traditionally ploughed into ridges and furrows which in more recent years have been damaged through overgrazing resulting in a reduction in the flora diversity present.

BBOWT will reintroduce a hay meadow management regime with mid-summer hay-cut and aftermath conservation grazing to help increase the abundance of the key perennial herb species present in the sward, delivering similar restoration to what we have achieved at our other locations in the Upper Ray Meadows Reserve.

We are extending the boundary hedges at Ludgershall to support black and brown hairstreak butterfly populations whilst also protecting a natural pond which has evidence of great crested newts and grass snakes being present. These two habitats have been excluded from our BNG project as survey results show that they are already considered to be in good condition. However, over the life of this habitat bank we plan to survey changes in all habitat types and condition as well as monitoring key species populations such as yellowhammers, meadow pipits and skylarks.

Ludgershall Meadows, like most of our 85 nature reserves, are open to the public on every day of the year and we welcome visitors to the site to experience the positive outcomes for nature BBOWT is delivering here and across the Upper Ray Meadows Reserve.

We are also keen to work with business from all sectors who would like to understand more about their nature-related dependencies and impacts because the natural environment is fundamental to everything we produce, consume, and depend on for our shared prosperity, health and well-being.

Careful restoration and management of the meadows and hedgerows in Ludgershall will provide additional distinctive and important havens for wildlife moving through the Upper Ray Meadows Nature Reserve, at the heart of this Living Landscape.