Ecology and Biodiversity at the Tufa Field

The Ecology of the Tufa Field is complex and diverse, having developed over the 50 years since the field was last in active cultivation as a dairy cow meadow.

Surrounding land to the south has burgeoned into a rich woodland, and is now the Stirtingale Farm SNCI. The apron to this woodland is the Tufa Field, with a Lowland Grassland characteristic, and supporting the life in the woodland, as well as its own inhabitants.

Key species include Reptiles (Slow Worms), Amphibians (Newts, Frogs and Toads), Invertebrates (Moths and Butterflies) and Small and Large Mammals (Voles, Deer, Badgers, Foxes). The entrance to the field is an important Bat corridor.

The Tufa Flushes support calcareous plant life, the surface of the field being either continuously or partially permeated by up to 3 watercourses. The Tufa formations are in their infancy and as such are not particularly prominent, but the continuous flow of water containing high levels of dissolved limestone give rise to conditions only found rarely in the area. 

The presence of numerous Garden Ponds around the site periphery supports amphibian breeding and hibernation,underlining their importance in an urban setting..

The 2024 Ecological Impact Assessment records numerous Slow Worm sites, 

The EIA is a snapshot, taken at a particular time and under prevailing conditions, and does not pretend to record all species, or identify their likely presence. Local observations have taken place over many years in continuous conditions, so has identified many more species than a quick survey can.

This local record is documented here.

The field has a complex geology and ecology with representatives from large and small mammal groups, birds of all sizes, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates including moths butterflies and insect life. There is also a huge range of botanical species present in the wet and drier areas in close proximity. Many have made their home here others depend on the site for feeding and breeding, some for transit to other areas, some are unique to the ecology.

A veritable Museum  of Life in our midst.

Documenting all of the species is a considerable task and is ongoing so the following tables are constantly being amended and extended. If you spot something we have missed, please let us know.

If you want to know more about a particular species, click on its link.

Mammals

To see a full list of UK mammals and their status , visit the Mammal Society.

Birds

N.B. All birds are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Status indicates the conservation status as defined by the RSPB, Red is the highest danger category, through Amber to Green which are the birds which are not showing moderate or severe declines.

Amphibians

Reptiles

Invertebrates

Plants