Wildlife & Biodiversity

From sparrowhawks to slow worms, Wincheap Orchards & Fields have it all!

Mammals

Badgers, foxes, harvest mice and rabbits can be found throughout the area.

Birds

Fieldfares, cuckoos, tawny owls and many more feathered friends live here...

Insects, Reptiles & Amphibians

Firebugs, slow worms, newts. See what else you can find!

Photos by Bethany Cunnington

These orchards, fields, trees and hedgerows are a haven for Kentish wildlife. This mixed landscape has a high biodiversity value. For example, over 50 species of birds have been identified some of which are on the ‘Red List', so at risk of extinction. Migratory birds use this area to overwinter and several species of bird breed here. There are badger setts which have probably been in continual use for over 100 years. Making these sites are not just burrows but complex, long lasting ancestral homes which are central to badgers’ social structure and survival. Smaller mammals such as the Common shrew and voles thrive here as do lizards such as the slow worm which hibernate over the winter in crevices in the rotting trees. Some of these species find their way into the gardens near to this area and the adjoining allotments.

The proposed development of this area of nearly 2000 houses would destroy the habitats of all the species which thrive here. The ‘green corridors’ in the Local Plan (one being proposed adjacent to the A2) will not replace the rich diverse ecosystems such as those which are provided by the niches in the old, cracked trees, long grasses at the base of pear and apple trees, hedgerows along Stuppington Lane and stubble left on the fields over winter. What little green space is proposed will not contain food sources such as windfall apples and pears, small mammals such as voles which are prey for kestrels and will not be rich in insects, worms, seeds, slugs and snails.

Our community is recording and documenting some of this wonderful wildlife that we have in this area of Canterbury. Please join the WhatApp group and send in your pictures of any wildlife that you encounter on your walk through the Wincheap orchards and fields.

Why do the Orchards and Fields of Wincheap and the Surrounding Gardens Support Such A Large Number of Bird Species which are endangered?

There are 25 species of birds which are found in Wincheap’s orchards and the surrounding fields which are on the UK Birds of Conversation Concern list. This list ranks UK bird species by extinction risk, the table below summarises the bird species in the Red and Amber lists.

The Red List identifies species of which there is highest concern as they are in critical danger, having declined by more than 50% over 25 years or facing global extinction. We have 13 species on the Red List including Greenfinches and Swifts which are a recent addition to the ‘Red List’. Cuckoos and House Martins are two species which are in the most trouble with numbers declining rapidly. There are also Fieldfares from northern Europe which overwinter in these orchards as this habitat provides a crucial, abundant food source during the colder months.

Here are some of our Red Listed birds:

Eurasian Starlings (Red List)

Starlings arrive in the UK from November to February when many migrate here from Scandinavia. They are one of our fastest declining birds, since 1995. Starling populations have plummeted by 54% in the UK due to a severe loss of food ad nesting sites, driven by, habitat loss due to urban development, industrial agriculture and pesticide use. Although most murmurations look huge, these annual flocks are actually quite small compared to what they used to be and are becoming increasingly rare. Starlings forage for invertebrates in the soil and so need the short grass like that found in the Wincheap fields which allows them to keep watch for predators whilst feeding.

Common Linnet (Red List)

Linnet numbers have dropped significantly over the past few decades due to changes in agricultural practices, with the UK population estimated to have fallen by 57% between 1970 and 2014. They are small, seed-eating finches which are mainly associated with open farmland, scrub, and hedgerows. They rely on weed seeds and agricultural grains found in stubble fields and along hedgerows. These birds are crucial indicators of farmland biodiversity which reflects the diversity found in this area. In the winter Linnets and Goldfinches which are also found in this area forage together to increase efficiency in finding food and to enhance safety from predators through increased vigilance.

The Amber List identifies species that have shown moderate declines. We have 11 species of birds on the Amber List which includes the Tawny Owl and Meadow Pipit.

Here are some of our Amber Listed Birds:

Dunnock (Amber List)

The Dunnock (‘hedge sparrow’) has been placed on the Amber List because its breeding population has declined substantially between the mid-1970s and the mid-1980s. Although numbers are recovering, they are well below previous levels. Orchards provide the perfect mix of dense, low shrubs and hedges for nesting, alongside open ground for foraging. In orchards, they forage for beetles, spiders, and other insects in the leaf litter, particularly around the bases of trees. Dunnocks often build their nests in the thick, twiggy branches of fruit trees and hedgerows surrounding orchards. While feeding on insects, they may also serve as hosts for the cuckoo, with their nests often found in the thick vegetation characteristic of older orchard sites.

Kestrel (Amber List)

We have a pair of breeding Kestrels in the Wincheap orchards. The breeding population of these small falcons have declined since the 1970s with some areas seeing a decline of 69% partly due to a decline in habit for their prey. The orchards are the perfect hunting ground for these birds as they perch hunt in the winter to conserve energy. They perch on the hedges between the pear trees and from this vantage point they scan for movement and then dive down on their prey. Breeding kestrels need a high field vole population density, this is additional evidence that the Wincheap orchards are rich in wildlife.

Redwing (Amber List)

The Redwing is the smallest true thrush that visits the UK typically feed on berries (like hawthorn) in October when they arrive from breeding grounds in Iceland and Scandinavia. As the winter progresses and this food source runs out, they rely heavily on orchards for food, where they feed on fallen, rotting apples. They can be seen in the Wincheap orchards and fields foraging together with fieldfares which also overwinter here. Redwings are listed as a Schedule 1 species, so they have enhanced legal protection under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Song Thrush (Amber List)

A familiar and popular garden songbird whose numbers have declined significantly on farmland and in gardens. The removal of thick, overgrown hedgerows and traditional, scrubby orchards has reduced the number of safe, dense habitats where these birds prefer to build their nests. In spite of numbers declining elsewhere, in winter they join blackbirds in significant numbers in the damp, uncultivated areas at the edge of the Wincheap orchards where they find the invertebrates like worms to feed on.

Sparrowhawk (Amber list)

There has been a significant decline (25%) in the breeding population of these small hawks over the last 25 years. These hawks are adapted to hunting in small spaces such as gardens and overgrown orchards which provide ideal, sheltered nesting sites. They are ambush hunters, often using the trees in orchards to perch and wait before launching fast, low-level attacks on small birds. The photos shown here are taken in Stuppington Lane, and in two gardens which back on to the area.

Birds on the Green List

In addition, there are at least 24 species of birds on the Green List which use this habitat including Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Goldfinches and Red Kites. The table below summarises the green list species identified in this area.