The reserve was purchased in 2006 to safeguard the local Stone-curlew population, and to protect an important landscape link.
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This summer the RSPB celebrates their 20th anniversary of managing RSPB Winterbourne Downs nature reserve.
The reserve was purchased in 2006 to safeguard the local Stone-curlew population, and to protect an important landscape link between two of the country’s largest areas of chalk grassland, Salisbury Plain and Porton Down.
Since 2006, the number of Stone-curlew pairs at RSPB Winterbourne Downs has steadily increased from just two, to a high of 11 in 2022.
As there are only a few hundred pairs of Stone-Curlew now breeding in the UK, and only in two areas, Wessex and The Brecks, the contribution of Winterbourne Downs to the Wessex population is enormous. Up to eleven pairs breeding each year on one farm is an extraordinary contribution to the overall success of this farmland species in the UK.
The site, which was just a mid-sized Wiltshire farm, has been transformed over the last two decades into a case study in species-rich chalk grassland restoration with over 200 hectares (approx. 280 football pitches) now established. This has been made possible thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund providing 33% to acquisition and set up costs and wildflower enhancements under the “Saving Our Magnificent Meadows” project.
Wiltshire is home to roughly half of the UK’s chalk grassland and these small remaining pockets are internationally important, as this habitat is incredibly rare across the globe.
RSPB Winterbourne Downs now boasts many chalk-specialist species, including a thriving breeding population of Stone-curlew, special chalkland butterflies such as Adonis Blue and Marsh Fritillary, and rare chalkland wildflowers like Clustered Bellflower and Round-headed Rampion.
A network of fallow plots and low-maintenance chalk scrapes have been created at the reserve to provide vital nesting grounds for its flagship species, Stone-curlew, as well as benefitting Lapwing and Skylark.
This work was funded by the National Highways Biodiversity Programme, as part of the Wiltshire Chalk Partnership. The chalk scrapes have the added advantage that they remain clear of vegetation through the whole nesting season, allowing the birds the opportunity for two broods without disturbance from clearance. They require clearing after five years which can be done when the birds are away during the winter months. This management has the double fold value of ensuring the long-term presence of early successional chalk grassland and associated butterflies at the reserve.
“In its 20 years as an RSPB reserve, over 100 Stone-curlews have successfully fledged from Winterbourne Downs, which is an incredible achievement.
“When I first came to the reserve I was impressed and excited by RSPB’s bold vision to create a safe-haven for Stone-curlew together with a landscape-scale, nature-rich area of new chalk grassland. I knew it would be a huge challenge starting off from a cereal farm with break crops for a productive sheep flock and remember thinking that it would be at least a 20-year project to create anything worthwhile.”
Corn Buntings, another priority farmland bird species, have also benefitted from the RSPB’s efforts at Winterbourne Downs, Patrick describes: “Corn Buntings were not recorded at the reserve before the RSPB took over, but wonderfully we now provide a home to over 20 breeding pairs. This is an amazing number for one farm.
“They nest on the ground in tussocks of grassland, so to help them we have created undisturbed chalk grassland alongside wild bird seed mixtures. The chalk grassland itself will have a lot of the seeds they require and in turn attracts insects for feeding their young. So much of what we do to improve the chalkland at this reserve has a positive, knock-on benefit to many other species.”
A series of smaller chalk scrapes, designed as stepping stones for chalk-grassland specialist butterflies, have also been established.
The centrepiece of these works is the creation of a 200m-long curved chalk butterfly bank in the centre of the reserve.
Volunteer work parties hand-collected chalk butterfly foodplant seeds, notably Horseshoe Vetch, Kidney Vetch and Common Rockrose, from local donor sites and then planted them on the butterfly bank. These have flourished and are now starting to sow their own seeds on the bank. This work has been rewarded by the colonisation of a succession of iconic chalk butterflies over the years including the Small, Adonis and Chalkhill Blue butterflies. In recent years as part of the Wiltshire Chalk Partnership funding has been secured from Natural England’s Species Recovery Grant for its Chalk Species Revival project and the National Landscapes Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund. An example of supported works includes managing the reserve to attract the Marsh Fritillary butterfly, by creating the right conditions for cattle to graze on site.
Patrick explains: “Cattle are incredibly important for creating the right habitat for Marsh Fritillaries and other species, their hoof marks make bare ground for the annuals to seed into. We couldn’t do without these animals, they’re essential to looking after nature at the reserve and providing a home for these special chalkland species.”
Patrick says: “We’re hopeful that our work at the reserve will allow it to fulfil its vision of providing resilience in the face of climate change for chalkland wildlife and plants, and to act as a corridor of suitable habitat between Porton Down and Salisbury Plain in the heart of Wiltshire’s Chalk Country.
“RSPB Winterbourne Downs showcases what can be achieved if humans have a mind to come together in partnership to make nature a priority.”
