Our teams are passionate about creating attractive open spaces for customers to enjoy that are also highly beneficial to wildlife. So much so, each of our Operations Managers have created a hibernaculum within their Region. Whilst they may look like piles of grass or garden debris, there is much more to it than that with several different layers of materials underneath to help create a variety of areas to attract a range of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and small mammals.
Martin Shaw, our Midlands and South East Operations Manager, created this hibernaculum in Ampthill with the developments Regional Manager, Michael Cunningham. Hidden under the grass are two recycled pallets and hedge trimmings from the development to create a perfect safe space for local wildlife to hibernate, bask, feed and shelter. We also included four pipes to provide easy access for local wildlife. The grass and soil on the top were reused from the area dug.
Paul McGovern, our West Operations Manager, created this hibernaculum in Newport with the developments Regional Manager, Tony Hobbs. The area was dug out and filled with layers of twigs, leaves, branches and logs. It was then topped with soil and wood chippings, which creates the perfect habitat for local wildlife. All of the materials were sourced from tree works from the development.
Emlyn Craven, our North East Operations Manager, created this hibernaculum in Leeds with the developments Regional Manager, Raymond Forbes. Once dug, the area was piled up with layers of tree offcuts, branches, leaves, soil and then topped with grass from the area dug. This additional layer of grass creates a protective layer to keep visiting animals safe.
We’ve placed personalised signage near each hibernaculum to ensure residents know why they have been created and that they aren’t just messy piles of grass etc!
You can create your own hibernaculum out of any material, from garden waste to leftover building materials. A small one in the bottom of your garden can really help local wildlife thrive, by providing a safe place for them to rest or live permanently! Hopefully, in the coming months, we will see some wildlife visiting our hibernacula.
We would love to see your hibernacula’s, you can send any photos or videos to customercare@meadfleet.co.uk.
About Meadfleet
Meadfleet manage public open space on new build housing developments throughout England and Wales. 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 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.
We know that a good quality, natural environment will enhance a local neighbourhood, improve well-being and contribute to improved house values.