Historical
The 8000 acres that lie within the parish boundary are hilly and on a
variety of soil types overlying chalk, chert, upper greensand and
various Jurasic sands and clays. The state of the wildlife has mirrored
the fortunes and state of farming over the years. Best suited to
livestock farming with small fields - fewer larger than twenty acres -
each surrounded by earthen high banked hedges topped with hazel,
hawthorn, and up to ten other species. It being the policy that these
hedges were cut and layered, ideally, every seven years and that single
leaders of tree species be left, these hedges had trees sprinkled along
their lengths. These were chiefly of beech, oak, ash, sycamore, fir and
holly. There also were numerous cider apple orchards.
In 1919 the six outlying farms of the Cricket St Thomas Estate in
Winsham Parish were sold off - just before the farming recession of the
1930's began. This signalled the rapid proliferation of wild life - both
fauna and flora - over the largely agricultural parish. The Winsham
village housing , farmsteads and the five hamlets (Purtington, Whatley,
Bridge, Ammerham, Chalkway) were mostly of local stone - many with lime
mortar bonding - and thatched roofs. Ideal wildlife habitats
Habitats
The inter-war years undoubtedly saw the apex of wildlife. The trees
were often ancient with hollow branches and trunks. The hedges were
often overgrown with wide verges with honeysuckle and climbers. The
meadows and field corners were often left to flower. Hay was the main
crop. The arable land was weedy and the water courses were left to their
natural development. With a vertical fall of some 600ft and a rainfall
variation said to be from about 29 to 35 inches per annum there were
numerous eco-climates and mini-habitats in sheltered spots. A limiting
factor was, however, the alkaline nature of the soils due to the chalk
topping and the flash flooding of the water courses from higher up.
During World War 2 much of the area was ploughed up to grow corn
crops or sugar beet. Farmers were paid grants to destroy rabbits with
cyanide gas or shooting. Land girls were brought in to replace men in
the forces.
After 1945 there was a real effort to vastly increase all branches of
farming. The scientific development in all aspects was rapid. With new
fertilisers, insectecides and herbicides, more vigorous plant varieties
were developed. It was the making of silage - to largely replace hay
that, with three cuttings in one season, turned our meadows into almost
wildlife deserts. Large herds of cattle compacted the meadows. Heavily
sprayed winter wheat or barley did the same for our arable land. The
flail hedge cutter, with the clearing of so many hedgerow trees, limited
a useful habitat. Very many hedges were totally removed. This, and
myxamotosis, decimated the rabbit population. Finally, some old woodland
was reclaimed as pasture or replanted with softwoods. New farm buildings
of steel, asbestos and concrete lacked wildlife habitats.
Despite all this, much remains and there is generally now a better
understanding of wildlife. For example, in 1974 a long strip of 2000
mixed trees were planted under the 'New Landscapes' scheme on
Windwhistle farm. Winsham had also gained a Wild Tree and Plant Nursery,
with two lakes. Some gardens also encourage birds and butterflies.
Wildlife 2001
So, today, the best way to examine our Wildlife is to look at the
different main habitats - watercourses, road and lane verges, woodland,
buildings and undeveloped farmland. Here we shall meet mammals, birds,
amphibians, insects, plants and fungi .
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