Case Studies - Energy & Environment

Eelmoor Marsh in Farnborough is one of the last remaining fragments of Cove Common, which was once part of heathland that stretched along the Thames Valley.

Historically, the heathland would have been maintained by human influence - local villagers would have grazed their livestock on the heath and used local plants for fuel, food and forage. Over time, this connection with the land has been lost and, together with impacts to the site such as the construction of the drainage ditches for the adjacent airfield, has resulted in the deterioration of the land.

“QinetiQ and Marwell Preservation Trust are working to transform Eelmoor Marsh into a conservation site that contributes new knowledge to research in heathland restoration.”
Martin Wilkie, Conservation Biologist for Marwell Preservation Trust and PhD student, University of Southampton

Challenge

• Eelmoor Marsh in Farnborough was originally part of extensive heathland with a diversity of habitat supporting many rare species of plants, birds and dragonflies.
• Due to many years of neglect, some parts of Eelmoor Marsh became overgrown. Invasive vegetation such as dominant grasses, pine and birch altered the environment to the detriment of the heathland habitat.
• Research into how large herbivores can be used most effectively to support restoration and management of the conservation site was very limited.
• Marwell Zoological Park had a number of surplus male Przewalski’s horses from their captive group, which required an area to develop natural foraging behaviour and social dynamics.

Solution

• Large herbivores were introduced in 1995 to assist in restoring the site to its original heathland through grazing management.
• The secure site of Eelmoor Marsh offers the endangered Przewalski’s horses a ‘soft release’ site before being released into the wild.
• Martin Wilkie, a conservation biologist at Marwell Zoological Park and a PhD student at the University of Southampton, is working at Eelmoor Marsh examining the impact of large herbivores on the physical habitat and biodiversity of the site.

Results

• Eelmoor Marsh now provides a habitat for rare wildlife including
  the woodlark, nightjar, and Dartford warbler.
• The site has seen a ‘floral resurrection’ with the numbers of many rare plants increasing tenfold, such as the pale heath violet, the long-leaved sundew and the pale butterwort.
• Two Przewalski’s horses have been released into the wild from
  Eelmoor Marsh while others have gone on to become breeding stallions within the captive population.