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Species Lists for Holwell Farm (word doc) - Why not take a copy of this list out with you and use the tick boxes to record the species you find? Why not add to the list if you see something new? Also please click here for info on the winter wildlife.


Introduction

Set within open moorland this 400 acre farm has over 60 acres of mire and moorland within its boundary. Together with a stream and areas of woodland the farm has a variety of habitats and wildlife. Over 150 plant species from woodland, grassland, bog and heath can be found here and so far over 30 species of birds including curlew, lapwing, buzzard and skylark have been recorded.


Holwell Farm

With so much here on the doorstep you can explore the farm yourself to discover the rich variety of wildlife with the dramatic backdrop of Haytor, Hound Tor and Bonehill around you.

Holwell has appeal all year. Nearby Holwell Lawn is a vivid sea of blue in May when it is covered in bluebells and in the late summer heathers and gorse flower giving a purple and yellow haze to the surrounding countryside. Autumn is colourful too with fungi in the woods and rusty-coloured bracken on the hillsides.


What you can see on site

Everywhere you look there are interesting plants, lichens, mosses and birds. Just below the farmhouse is a good place to start near a small stream with plants such as water mint, marsh thistle, yellow flag iris, lady’s smock and soft rush (use Dartmoor Pocket Guide – Farmland Plants to help with identification). Swallows and house martins swoop and dart about in the summer months hunting insects on the wing whilst making their mud nests under the eaves or in the barns of the farm (use Dartmoor Pocket Guide – Farmland Birds).




Wetland plants growing below the farmhouse

Overhead look out for buzzards circling in search of food. Although buzzards are a relatively common sight in the south west, they are much rarer in the rest of the country. These large brown birds can be seen soaring high above looking for rabbits, voles and carrion to eat. Their numbers have increased greatly over the last two decades following a decline of rabbits due to myxomatosis in the 1950s.

Beside the farmhouse is a small copse of trees where you can see bluebells in spring. The trunks of the trees are cloaked in lush green mosses and lichens and ferns abound. Leafy lichens such as this only live in unpolluted air. Other interesting woodland plants such as wood sorrel, primrose, pignut and pink purslane grow there (use Dartmoor Pocket Guide – Trees and Shrubs and Woodland Plants to help with identification).


Lichen on twig



You will hear woodland birds such as blue tit, nuthatch and chaffinch (Dartmoor Pocket Guide – Woodland Birds).

Bluebells are a particular feature of woodlands in the South West, which is the best place in Europe for the species. At Holwell and in woodlands and heathlands in the area bluebells provide a spectacular display of dazzling blue in late April and early May. Becoming increasingly rare, bluebells are a species of conservation concern and are protected in Britain under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Although widespread in Britain, the bluebell is globally threatened and the UK holds 25-49% of the world population.


Bluebells at Holwell



If you head north from the farm buildings you will find remnants of an old green lane. Follow the cattle tracks down into the valley where you will find a small larch plantation and beside it an area of wet woodland. Willow growing in very damp conditions like this is called willow carr. Willow warblers and chiff chaffs are summer visitors to the woods. Again the trees are cloaked in mosses and lichens. The gentle sound of running water makes this a lovely place for peaceful contemplation.


Wet woodland

Rocks and stone walls provide a dry harsh habitat for a few specialist plants such as English stonecrop, maidenhair spleenwort and sheep’s sorrel as well as a variety of lichens and mosses.


Rock garden at Holwell

The mire in the valley is well worth a visit especially in the late spring and summer when there is a variety of interesting plants to look for. Heath spotted orchids are fairly common together with bog bean, bog asphodel, bog pimpernel and the diminutive ivy-leaved bellflower (use Dartmoor Pocket Guide – Bog Plants to help with identification). Take care! Wear boots!

Heath spotted orchid




Notable Habitats

Mire, moorland, deciduous woodland, willow carr (wet woodland), stream, bare rocks


Notable Species
Curlew, lapwing, buzzard, skylark, (bog hoverfly – recorded nearby)


Other points of interest
Holwell Lawn – covered in bluebells in May


Neighbouring wildlife sites

Holwell Lawn – managed under agri-environment scheme for its bluebells.

Holwell and Haytor Down – managed under agri-environment scheme for wading birds including lapwing and curlew.


Haytor from Holwell

Wildlife sites within 5 km


East Dartmoor SSSI – contains the largest area of heather moorland remaining on Dartmoor with a colourful combination of dwarf shrubs such as common heather, bell heather, cross-leaved heath, bilberry and western gorse. It is largely unenclosed, treeless and grazed by cattle, sheep and ponies. There are also areas of grassland dominated by purple moor-grass, mat grass, sheep’s fescue, common bent and bristle bent. The valley bottoms are waterlogged with sphagnum mosses being common. in the wet pools grow bog bean, marsh lousewort and bog asphodel. Moorland birds include red grouse, snipe, curlew, wheatear and whinchat as well as ring ouzel. The emperor moth, a spectacular day-flying moth with eye-spots on its wings is also found here, its caterpillars feed on heather. The Two Moors Way passes right through this site.

East Dartmoor Woods and Heaths - a wonderful National Nature Reserve which includes three adjacent reserves – Yarner Wood, Trendlebere Down and the Bovey Valley Woodlands near the town of Bovey Tracey. You can walk along a magical boulder-strewn valley in the Bovey Valley or follow an excellent walking trail through an example of western oakwood of international importance in Yarner Wood. The rare dormouse and pied flycatchers (which are summer visitors) live here. Trendlebere Down, an area of nationally rare lowland heathland, provides further diversity. All are well worth a visit!


Yarner Wood

Haytor Area – this area is divided into two separate SSSIs – Haytor Rocks and Quarries SSSI and Haytor and Smallacombe Iron Mines SSSI. The latter two mines, situated in Haytor Vale, are of geological interest and provide a winter roost for bats. Haytor Rocks and Quarries are also a geological SSSI and offer marvellous views on a clear day. Within the quarry there is an interesting pool which is home to various species of dragonfly and amphibian tadpoles can be seen in the spring. The area is surrounded by moorland where typical plants such as Bell Heather, Bracken and Gorse can be seen. A car park, visitor information and toilets are nearby at SX765771.


Haytor

Wildlife sites within 10 km
Dart Valley (Devon Wildlife Trust) – upstream from Dartmeet and downstream from New Bridge this 290 hectare site combines upland moorland and unspoilt steep wooded valley with the fast flowing River Dart, internationally important for its salmon populations. . Rare species living here include Nightjars, Blue Ground Beetle and the largest population in the UK of the High Brown Fritillary butterfly. The reserve, which is on common land is part of the Spitchwick Manor Estate and falls within the Holne Woodlands SSSI. You can access the site from both Dartmeet (SX673732) and Newbridge (SX712708). Parts of the walk are rough and strenuous.

Hembury Woods SSSI, owned by the National Trust is a good example of western oak woodland with a wet alder wood in the valley and areas of heathy grassland around Hembury Castle, a prehistoric hill fort. The River Dart runs through the wood and the whole of the Dart Valley is a biodiversity hot-spot. Most of the woodland is pendunculate oak with silver birch, holly and hazel in the understorey. Flowers include bluebells, primroses, ramsons (wild garlic), wild daffodil and wood anemone, many of which are indicators of ancient woodland. Royal Ferns can be seen in patches, mainly on the river banks. A diverse flora of lichens occurs on the trunks and branches of the trees. The heathy areas have gorse and bell heather, tormentil, carline thistle and wild thyme. The variety of habitats support a rich invertebrate fauna. Access around the site is good and car parking is provided by the National Trust at SX729680.