Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2013 | Page 70

COUNTRY LIFE

RESEARCHING

for Clues

Richard Grogan
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust

The Wildlife Trust undertakes a huge amount of important
research to inform its role in protecting local wildlife. Richard
Grogan, the Trust’s Head of Conservation on the Island, gives a
flavour of some recent research projects.

The Trust is proud of its reputation
as an organisation that provides
robust evidence for its arguments for
the protection of local wildlife. Our
evidence has to be based in scientific
analysis so that resources are used
in a meaningful and cost-effective
way. Together with our partner
organisations and teams of highly
skilled volunteers, we carry out an
annual programme of ecological
surveys and data recording. Our
research also allows us to meet with
local and national decision-makers,
raise awareness of the issues and
persuade them to increase their
protection of our natural heritage
both on land and in the marine
environment. Here are four projects
that have helped to increase our
knowledge of the wildlife we are
working to protect.

recorded and assessed the impact
on water voles of a less widespread
non-native invasive aquatic plant –
parrot’s feather.
The results indicated that small,
medium and large Himalayan balsam
patches and parrot’s feather had no
significant effect on the amount of
vole signs found. However, when
patches of Himalayan balsam reached
a size classed as ‘continuous’, there
was a significant correlation with the
presence of vole signs: continuous
balsam had fewer signs of water voles
and so, by inference, fewer actual
water voles.

Water vole
Concerned by the rapid spread
of Himalayan balsam throughout
the River East Yar on the Isle of
Wight, the Wildlife Trust decided to
investigate whether this non-native
plant was affecting populations of
the rare water vole. The study also
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Hazel dormouse
A project studied five sites
on the Isle of Wight, which
had each been planted at
various times during the
Forestry Commission’s
JIGSAW scheme that
started in 2000. JIGSAW
asked farmers to plant new
woodlands of native trees
to join up or expand existing
ancient woodland sites. Each
site had 25 dormouse tubes or
boxes put up in a suitable area of the

planting. These tubes were surveyed
up to eight times between May and
October. In addition, nut hunts at all
sites looked for dormouse nibbled nuts
as an indicator that the animals were
present. Small mammals were trapped
at two sites.
Dormice were found at two sites
and their distinctive woven nests were
found at the other three sites. These
results indicate that dormice are at

Berried (egg
carrying) female
white-clawed
crayfish by
Maddy Ivey