The Society was asked by the Museum authorities late last year if it could help with a series of wildlife surveys of the grounds, and by the end of 2007 members had already carried out an autumn fungus survey, recording 138 species to date, and a preliminary survey of the trees, the latter revealing a particularly impressive oak (Quercus robur) with a circumference of 25 feet. A winter bird survey has been carried out, and surveys for breeding birds are planned.
During these surveys, barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets were found in the old restaurant building, and two of these had been dissected and analysed to date, revealing bones from the following mammal species:
Although these were not of course necessarily caught on the Brooklands site, the water shrew record is of particular interest as this species has quite a localised distribution and is never found in high densities, and there are concerns that its numbers are decreasing. Unfortunately the building where the pellets were found is now being used as a workshop, but Museum staff are planning to put up owl boxes on site to compensate for loss of the building as a potential roost site.
More recently, during January 2008, Ross, Dick and I visited a number of underground structures on the site to look for signs of bats, recording the temperature and humidity to help assess their suitability as bat hibernacula. Although no bats were found, conditions within one structure in particular - an old air-raid shelter - were very suitable in this respect, although being open at both ends the temperature is likely to be unstable. Blocking up one end would remedy this and therefore increase its potential as a hibernaculum, though the shelter may be a listed building and such work therefore not allowed.
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Peacock butterfly in the air-raid shelter - perhaps less recognisable than usual from this view! |
Also found hibernating in these structures were herald moths (Scoliopteryx libatrix) and peacock butterflies (Inachis io). In addition, bat droppings and moth wings were found in the tunnels beneath the racetrack, indicative of feeding perches typical of brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus).
Lynn Whitfield