Knapp and Knowle

Ten Practical Outdoor Activities

1. Conduct a Hedgerow Structure and Connectivity Assessment:
   Walk along the ancient hedgerows at Bickwell or Sidmouth Cemetery, focusing on how they function as a "green highway" for wildlife, such as bats like the rare Lesser Horseshoe Bat. Observe the density of the shrub flora and the presence of species like Black Bryony and Holly. This reinforces the principle of habitat connectivity across human-created borders.

2. Perform a Grassland Flora Comparison Study:
   Visit a site with rare, uncultivated grassland, such as Peasland Knapp, and compare its floral diversity to an area of semi-improved or ‘improved’ grassland. Look for indicator species like Yellow Rattle or waxcap fungi, which signify low-nutrient, unmanaged conditions. The goal is to understand how management (or lack thereof) affects species richness.

3. Map Invasive and Established Species:
   Survey a specific area, perhaps The Knowle or Sidmouth Cemetery, to locate and map pervasive introduced species like Three Cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum). This highlights the management challenge posed by invasive plants and the potential for species spreading from nearby private dwellings.

4. Undertake a Fungi and Lichen Substrate Survey:
   Concentrate on areas known for these groups, like Sidmouth Cemetery, where the majority of fungi and lichen occur. Examine the older gravestones and walls to observe the diversity of lichens, mosses, and ferns, noting how specific communities depend on the substrate (limestone or granite).

5. Analyse a Freshwater Habitat Restoration Case Study:
   Visit the Knapp Nature Pond and identify the challenges involved in water margin habitat restoration, referencing the previous issues with invasive Australian Swamp Stonecrop (Crassula helmsii). Look for post-restoration biodiversity, such as newts, frogs, caddis fly larvae (an indicator of a healthy pond), and dragonflies.

6. Monitor Pollinator Activity in Key Foraging Areas:
   Spend time observing insect life in areas rich with food sources, such as the orchard in The Knapp, or meadows abundant with umbellifer flower species and bramble scrub. Note which specific plant species attract the most pollinators (e.g., Meadow Crane's-bill attracting Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumble Bees).

7. Explore Avian Habitat Use (The Knowle Focus):
   Conduct a short bird count in the parkland area of The Knowle, which has the highest percentage of bird species recorded in the cluster, largely due to its concentration of trees and shrubs. Pay attention to how different tree types, like the small leaved lime, support various insects which, in turn, feed birds.

8. Examine Micro-Habitats Provided by Yellow Meadow Ant Hills:
   At Peasland Knapp, study the large ant hills, which create an unusual micro-habitat. Look for specialised flora thriving on the tops, such as Creeping Cinquefoil, and observe evidence of predators like Green Woodpeckers feeding on the ants.

9. Identify the Role of Standing Dead Wood:
   In The Knapp's orchard or woodland areas, locate standing dead wood within fruit trees and ancient hedgerows. Observe signs of use by invertebrates and beetles, understanding why this often-cleared material is vital for ecological value.

10. Participate in a Citizen Science Survey (iNaturalist Practice):
    Practice recording observations of flora and fauna, similar to the process used to gather data for sites not open to the public like Manor Park and Highfield Meadow. This activity directly engages with the method used to quantify biodiversity and contributes to the overall understanding of species presence within the cluster.