Farmland Habitats

As you peer through the carriage windows on your journey along our line, you will see no shortage of farmland.  From arable to livestock, not to mention orchards, the land around the West Somerset Railway has been farmed for centuries. 

While farmed land may not be as ‘natural’ as ancient woodland, it can still offer an essential haven for wildlife.  The hedgerows that surround many fields actually create a similar habitat to the edges of woodland, offering shelter and warmth for small animals such as mice and voles, while the flowering plants that can grow there attract insects and provide seeds for small birds.

The older trees in orchards suit lichens and their blossoms attract pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies, while open pastureland attract grazers such as rabbits and deer.