Wyke Farm Project

Wyke farm nestles in a beautiful part of west Dorset and was formerly an intensive dairy farm of about 100 hectares. An adjoining 145 hectare area of woodland of approximately 145 hectares is now in the same ownership. The owners have been keen from the outset to benefit wildlife.

Dorset Ecology has been working with the farm manager on a variety of areas, including:-

• an extensive bird box scheme, to be monitored over the coming years. 
• 93 bat boxes were fitted in 2007 and will be checked monthly between April and October each year to ascertain what species are using the farm and woodlands. Checks during 2007 showed that 21 were used by four different species. Recording and analysis of bat ultrasound will be extended.
• a full badger survey has been done and all setts recorded and mapped.
• The ponds have had an initial assessment and will be monitored to see how they develop.

The vision is that the farm will be a profitable enterprise, with quality produce, while being a haven for wildlife. It is hoped to use the area as an educational resource to demonstrate that profitable farming and wildlife conservation can co-exist.