Here at Meadfleet we implement an ecology-led approach to open space management. As winter sets in many of our native wild animals will be adapting to the cold conditions:
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- Our bats, hedgehogs and hazel dormice will all hibernate – they will find a safe place free from frost and flooding where they can sleep throughout the winter.
- Some other mammals, such as otters, remain active throughout the winter, whereas some, such as badgers, will enter a ‘torpor’ – a state of deep sleep induced as their metabolism slows to conserve energy. Animals have evolved to enter a torpor in conditions when food is scarce.
- Reptiles and amphibians also enter a form of hibernation over the winter months.
Meadfleet manage their open spaces to provide safe havens for wintering animals:
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- We own and maintain a number of bat houses which support bats throughout the year, including underground hibernation sites
- We have created artificial ‘hibernacula’ on a number of our developments – bespoke havens providing protection from the cold conditions for amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates
- We retain areas of scrub and taller grassland vegetation over the winter – tussocks of grass and other vegetation can support overwintering invertebrates, amphibians and small mammals
- When undertaking beneficial woodland management we use the cut logs and brash to create ‘habitat piles’ – structures which can be used as shelter for animals
We also provide habitat for animals which remain active throughout the winter:
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- We have planted over 1km of new native species-rich hedgerows which provide berries for birds and small mammals
- We encourage planting of a variety of berry-bearing shrubs in our shrub beds to provide a source of food
- We encourage planting of native berry-bearing trees such as rowan to benefit birds in autumn and winter
- Retained areas of scrub and taller grassland vegetation provide a source of seeds for finches and other birds
As an ecologist I am lucky enough to hold several protected species licenses to help protect and boost their populations and this includes a dormouse license. It’s not possible to capture photos of dormouse in hibernation but I’ve included some photos in this article of a few of the sleepy creatures I have been lucky enough to get close to.
Paul Cassidy,
Ecology and Conservation Manager
About Meadfleet
Meadfleet is a multi-award-winning, carbon neutral management company founded over 25 years ago. Responsible for over 350 developments throughout England and Wales, we take a sustainable approach to open space management. Our Ecology and Conservation team ensure areas are managed to encourage biodiversity and we are partnered with leading insect charity Buglife, to help make the open spaces we care for more pollinator friendly. In 2021 we were awarded first place in the Pollinator category at CIRIA’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards for their Bee Friendly campaign.
Appointed by housebuilders and local authorities and with a portfolio of more than 350 developments, all with a variety of requirements that include full infrastructure, complex sustainable urban drainage systems, biodiverse species habitat, street lighting, grass care, shrubbery, woodlands, wildflower meadows and play equipment, Meadfleet are the professional and sustainable solution to open space management.
Established in 1995, we are specialists in residential open space management and our aim is to protect and enhance these areas long into the future. We are committed to providing an excellent service and continually improving our environmental credentials, demonstrated by certification in BS EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management and BS EN ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management.
We are delighted to be a Carbon Neutral Company, the first in our sector to achieve this. As one of the most experienced and trusted open space management companies in the UK, we take our role seriously. We believe taking climate action is important for companies like Meadfleet and the housebuilders and local authorities we work with.
We’ve signed up to the United Nations (UN) Climate Neutral Now initiative, launched in 2015 to increase climate action. We have pledged to measure, reduce and offset our carbon emissions with carbon credits every year. What’s more, we’ve also chosen to obtain carbon offsetting credits, equivalent to more than our estimated total emissions since Meadfleet first began in 1995.
Meadfleet employ experienced regional managers to proactively manage open spaces and respond to customer queries. As voluntary members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme, we offer our customers access to free, independent redress should this be required.
At Meadfleet we’re passionate about keeping open spaces safe and attractive and also believe it’s important to manage and enhance areas for the benefit of wildlife. We run regular customer initiatives such as giveaways of wildlife friendly seeds, bee hotels and bird nesting boxes. Our Bee Friendly campaign was awarded top prize in the pollinator category at CIRIA’s Big Biodiversity Challenge awards.
Meadfleet’s in-house Ecology and Conservation Team is at the centre of our business culture, leading our approach to open space maintenance. With experience in creating and managing a wide variety of habitats we ensure areas are maintained sensitively and appropriately and oversee continual biodiversity improvements. We understand the additional requirements of Biodiversity Net Gain, both in relation to planning and the 30-year covenant. Meadfleet are uniquely placed in the market to provide the management and maintenance skills required to ensure delivery of the ongoing requirements of biodiversity net gain on residential schemes in perpetuity.
We know that a good quality, natural environment will enhance a local neighbourhood, improve well-being and contribute to improved house values.