Wildlife Habitats

Erring Burn and neighbouring wetlands
The Burn flows along the farm’s southern boundary and supports a wide range of plants and animals. It is an important spawning ground for sea and brown trout which in turn provide food for foraging otters.

Farm Ponds
In the fenced area near to the Burn there is a well established pond which has two islands providing a safe site for ground nesting birds such as Mallard. Trees give shelter for wildlife and there are numerous plants, animals and water based insects here.

There is a second pond in the field behind the main house.

Grassland and Old Pasture
Much of the low lying land (adjacent to the Erring Burn) has restricted grazing, as part of the Stewardship Scheme and as a result has retained features associated with old pasture. These include more species of grasses and habitats for ground nesting birds such as skylark, curlew and lapwings with their distinctive pee-wit call.

Trees, Hedgerows and Field Margins
The six metre margins around the arable fields are important ‘wildlife corridors’ and offer safe routes between habitats e.g. linking the Burn and the Pond. They also provide a valuable habitat in their own right. The old Oak, Ash and Sycamore trees are ideal nesting sites for birds such as Little Owls, and Tree Sparrows. The hedges are mainly Hawthorn and supply wildlife with an abundant source of food throughout the year.

Fallow Land
A field is left fallow each year to encourage Lapwings and other ground nesting birds.

Habitats and Associated Wildlife & Plants found on Middle Farm
Bold entries are of National Importance