An Exciting Update from Benlands Nature Reserve...

Chloe Harrison
, 27 October 2023
An Exciting Update from Benlands Nature Reserve...
Charlie Carter excavating a new woodland pond.

In November 2021, we awarded Benlands Nature Reserve with funding from our Nature Recovery Award to help improve their woodland for wildlife. Their project pitch - introduce deer-proof fencing to part of the woodland to prevent deer browsing and allow increasingly scarce Orchids to thrive, and create a completely new pond to provide more habitat for a wider range of species. A year on, we caught up with them in Spring 2023 to see how things were going...


By Simon Carter

Benlands Nature Reserve, Warnham (Nature Recovery Award recipient)

So things on the reserve are really starting to take shape. The fencing materials have arrived and despite the weather, a few posts have gone in, with the aid of a 15kg post driver. This proves to be great back exercise, though only so much so, before a tea break is required! 

It is important for us to restore the current fencing since it is probably this protection that has minimised deer browsing within this patch of woodland and allowed the Early Purple and Butterfly Orchids to do so well.

The delivery of fence posts ready to be put into the ground.

Using a fence driver to force the fence posts deep into the ground, securing them in place.

The leaves of these Orchids along with some Bee Orchids are now starting to appear. Chiffchaff has been heard singing, reassuring us that summer is on its way despite the weather. Added to this, a lovely swathe of Wild Daffodils is now in full flower.

A Bee Orchid beginning to peak through winter's leaf litter.

Wild Daffodils coming into full flower.

Back in early February, we started work on a new pond. The aim here is to provide something of reasonable size and to flourish with vegetation suitable for aquatic life, dragonflies in particular. For the task, we hired a 3.5-tonne digger operated by our son Charlie who has a knack for operating these machines with great dexterity. 

He excavated the spot adeptly, giving good shallow shelving with a deeper central bed. An outflow channel was dug to send overflow water into an existing valley already in place, serving a stream that opens into a shady and flowing pool close by.

Charlie operating the digger (above) to excavate the shape of the new pond (below).

Between the two water bodies I have created a structure in the bank which I am praying might attract a Grey Wagtail to nest. They do pop in here from time to time.

The structure in the bank Simon hopes a Grey Wagtail may use as a nest.

With the pond fully excavated and puddled down, it was time to see how well it naturally held water. For this purpose, with a generator and pump, we were able to draw water from a deep well on site. We are told it is about 140 feet deep, so no shortage of water here.

Drawing water from a deep well on site (above) to fill the newly dug pond (below). 

How did it do?

The truth is it slowly lost its water over a period of 2 days. This was not a complete surprise since firm clay only exists at the bottom of the pond. However, the remaining soil does appear to have a good clay content, so we will exercise patience and see what happens over time. It may be that self-sealing properties will kick in.

If all fails, then the next step will be some sort of liner. The last resort would be a butyl liner, this goes against the grain for us, so we are exploring options that we have just discovered, namely ‘Bentonite Clay’, should natural sealing not work …… WATCH THIS SPACE!

Are you a landowner or a community group? Do you have a project that will help expand and improve networks for wildlife across Horsham District? Then we would love to receive your application for our Nature Recovery Award! For more information on how to apply for up to £5,000 of funding, please click here.


Leave a comment

Comments

  • Gail kittle:

    We would like to explore restoration, for nature recovery, of previously coppiced woodland with Sussex Wildlife Trust and funding. We look forward to further information about criteria for eligible projects and funding.

    31 Mar 2026 12:57:00

  • Sussex Wildlife Trust:

    We understand from the WHD team that they are currently working with Sullington Manor Farm.

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