Wanted: Mystery Animal Spotter!

A year or so ago, we worked with the Environment Agency in creating an 'otter holt' along a river near Corby and wanted to know if it was ever used by the target species. This ACME creation consisted of a hexagonal log chamber thatched with branch-wood and pinned down to avoid being washed away.

Ex-Moulton Graduates - from left, Lois (Project Officer with Alderney Wildlife Trust), David (Academic at Exeter University) and Dan (Consultant at Lockhart Garratt) standing in front of the newly created otter holt creation!

To figure out whether anything was using the holt, we set out a camera trap on site and got some interesting close-up footage of resident wildlife!

We also got this footage, but no one has been able to identify the animal - can you? If so, leave a comment on the blog - perhaps its an elusive otter?!

Let Battle Commence!

BSc Land Management students have been volunteered by their lovely tutor to take on the challenge of providing advice to the Three Counties Agricultural Society. They will compete against other Universities and land-based Colleges in providing a five year vision plan for the Three Counties Show. 'Game on' as Wayne from Wayne's World once said (I think I am showing my age, google it!).

If you are about in that part of the world, the Malvern Autumn Show is taking place on the 26th and 27th September, and with a harvest pavilion stocked full of food and drink, make sure you check it out! More details here: http://www.threecounties.co.uk/threecounties/

The Curious 'Tail' of a Harvest Mouse and BBC Wildlife Magazine!

If you've read this blog before, you will know that we are undertaking a project to investigate the ecology of a very diminutive and secretive native mammal species - the harvest mouse!

This summer saw another successful controlled release of these animals. We want to know how they disperse through farmland habitats to better understand their role within ecosystems, and we were lucky to be joined by freelance write Dr Amy Beer and natural history film-maker Dr Nick Upton on a warm day back in July.

Our work will be featured in a future edition of BBC Wildlife Magazine, and we'll let you know when it hits the press!

Harvest mouse image, modified by James from a picture by Nick Upton  (copyright)

Blogger Back in Business!

Well the new academic term is here and it's time to get this countryside blog back in action!

It's not too late to sign up for our courses in countryside management, and if you are a current student why not check back every week to see what you and your fellow students have been up to!

White letter hairstreak. Picture credit: Mark Lovell