Environment

Dragonflies were recorded as part of Rougham Estate’s ongoing Pond Survey of its 37 ancient and very well-connected woodland, grass and arable edge ponds.  18 Dragonfly species have been recorded in total on the various ponds since 2003 and one pond has had all 18 species recorded there!  The best ponds are the open, sunny, well vegetated ponds, while the shadier, darker ponds that support few species will be part of an ongoing pond restoration programme to improve them for dragonflies and other aquatic invertebrates such as mayflies, water stick-insects, water beetles and water bugs.

No formal butterfly surveys took place 2019-2021 but casual observations made during other wildlife survey work indicated all but the most elusive treetop butterfly species previously recorded in the 2018 survey were observed on the estate. 

Suffolk Wildlife Trust volunteers have carried out a botanical survey of ancient, secondary and planted woodland to the south of Rougham Estate.Analysis of the sampling survey demonstrates the wide range of woodland flora present, and the value of different broadleaved woodland management possible within large woodlands.High forest, coppice with standards and non-intervention woodland management result in structural and floral diversity.

A total of 26 butterfly species were recorded by two Butterfly Conservation volunteers carrying out transect surveys in woodland to the south of Rougham Estate.  This total of 26 represents 75+% of Suffolk’s 34 butterfly species that have regularly occurred in Suffolk during the last five years ie 2013-2017.  This really good number includes four of Suffolk’s target priority species, notably Small Heath, and species with host-specific larval foodplants: White Admiral, White-Letter Hairstreak and Silver-Washed Fritillary. 

A bat survey carried out by Suffolk Bat Group volunteers in July 2018 to the south of Rougham Estate found the mix of grassland, ponds and woodland to provide good feeding, commuting and roosting habitat for at least eight of the county’s 13 bats including the Barbastelle and Leislers bats. Rougham Estate Trust is committed to improving roosting and insect-rich foraging habitat for Suffolk’s bats.