Nature

There are hares and badgers at Cherry Tree but while it is common to see hares leaping out of view, it is rare to see a badger. The most visible signs are the chewed plant labels.

In the summer, wildflowers bloom to give bright patches of colour. Being wild however means that what they are will change from year to year.

Some years it might be buttercups and another year, knapweed or daisies.

Fields of gold

Because of the richness of the habitats, there are large numbers of birds, including raptors like this barn owl and sparrow hawks and buzzards.

On the ponds you can often see Canada Geese and swans.

In autumn, all grass is mown and left to decompose. To our surprise this has increased some wildflower species. A few areas are left unmown to provide a food source for goldfinches.

The ponds provide rich habitats for dragonflies and butterflies.