Farming in Protected Landscapes
Tern rafts at Garnon’s Farm in Dedham Vale
For Year 5 of the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, £3,560 was granted to farmers T & A Dobell to create two tern rafts at Pen Hill reservoirs at Garnon’s Farm.
A Farming in Protected Landscapes-funded FWAG flood mitigation report carried a proposal to enhance the ecological value of these two farm reservoirs and support wildlife by installing tern nesting rafts.
These rafts will provide a durable, effective and predator-free platform for nesting over many years.
These floating platforms will have the potential to provide suitable nesting habitats for species such as the Common Tern and Black-headed Gull (both Amber listed under the British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO) Birds of Conservation Concern 2021), which are known to benefit from isolated, predator-free nesting sites.
To prevent monopolisation by geese, the raft design incorporates side panels. This addition will enhance the ecological value of the reservoirs, support local wildlife and contribute to broader conservation goals within the landscape. This is one of the rafts before it was anchored into the reservoir. We will update our website to update on when terns and gulls choose to nest on the rafts.
