What's Hiding in the Wild Grasses at Letts Safari?
Wild grassland provides cover for all kinds of wildlife, and food for many...
Our approach to eco safari parks centres on the creation of a number of co-existing habitats that not only remove carbon dioxide but also provide vibrant habitats for wildlife.
Today's update from the park spotlights the wild grasslands at our first safari park, Dawlish Park.
Research undertaken only in recent years has shown that, apart from acting as key water catchments and biodiversity reserves, grasslands also act as giant carbon sinks that capture greenhouse gases.
Sparsely grazed and natural grasslands account for 80% of the total cumulative carbon sink of the world's grasslands, and explain most of the current global sink.
The key is ‘lightly grazed’. We manage wild herbivore populations to a strict number per acre to optimise grazing movements and habitat regeneration.
This might sound like some lovely environmental mumbo jumbo - but what it means is that we should all dump the lawn mower and let our grasses go!
Our first Letts Safari park at Mamhead Park has a about 40% wild grassland cover. These long, natural grasses attract all kinds of insects which, in turn, attract all kinds of birds - and bats!
We have monitored 75% of the UK bats species foraging in our first safari park. Including 4 of the rarest, and the rarest of the rarest - the elusive grey long-eared bat.
There are more than a dozen different kinds of grasses. Some come up right to your waist.
These wonderful swaying, green and golden plumes create the conditions for wildflower, and all kinds of creatures to wander through, hidden by the tall grasses.
Wild grasses provide shelter at night, food during the day, and nesting places for small mammals and ground nesting birds. The sight of butterflies and moths dancing between swaying plumes is truly magical.
Our wildlife photographers are in amongst them - working to bring you your front row seat at the park - online. We selected just a few of this week’s discoveries.
Why not let your grasses go? If you want to step into rewilding gently then start with your verges. Stop cutting them and see what happens. You’ll be amazed over time what grows up through them and travels within. It’s a mini-safari park in the making!
Anyway, we have to run. The whole Letts Safari team is on call for the annual roundup of herbivores at Mamhead Park. It’s done on foot and it’s like herding pigeons! We’ll let you know how we get on at next Friday’s ‘update from the park’.
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What I love seeing as I let my grasses grow is the new flowers and growth arising that I never knew was there. I've been doing it for several years now and each year I notice different species making a come back.