Ecological Surveys

Adrian has for several years been monitoring systematically the butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies on the Norfolk Ornithologists' Association reserve at Hempton Marsh, near Fakenham. His efforts have enabled the Association to implement management plans that have proved to be of benefit to wildlife in general and the aforementioned groups in particular. He has devised a novel formal transect protocol for assessing numbers of dragonflies and damselflies at weekly intervals and this has shown clearly how these insects utilise different habitat types within the reserve at various stages of their adult life (Riley, A.M., 2006 Hempton Marsh - Dragonfly Report for 2005. Norfolk Ornithologists' Association Annual Report, 2005). He has this year instigated a similar transect program for The Hawk and Owl Trust at Sculthorpe Fen, also near Fakenham. He presently identifies light-trap samples of Lepidoptera for the National Environment Research Council's Environmental Change Network.

There are many similar reserves throughout the country where financial restrictions preclude permanent staffing. If this is the case with you then Enterprise io may be able to help with regular wildlife monitoring with the least of inconvenience and cost.

Hempton Marsh, Norfolk

Adrian's expertise in butterflies, moths, birds, dragonflies and damselflies has also been used to provide reports for farmers in Norfolk cataloguing the wildlife inhabiting areas of their land that are being developed as ecological preserves. Reports such as these, particularly when supported by ongoing monitoring, can supply valuable information to the landowners when assessing the success of their management policies. An interest in gaining such detailed information is a great asset when applications are made to funding bodies such as DEFRA or the Heritage Lottery Fund as it confirms a genuine desire to enhance the long-term prospects for wildlife in the countryside in general and on one's own land in particular.

Whether you are the guardian of a nature reserve, the owner of an area of particular natural history interest, or a farmer with the welfare of the environment foremost in mind we suggest you contact us to see how assessing the wildlife under your care might benefit us all.