Habitat Creation at Hampton Court Park
Members of the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership enjoyed a walkover of the paddocks at Hampton Court Park (aka Home Park) to see the newly created wetland habitats- including sluices to aid control of the Longford River- installed over the last two years. Part of good stewardship of the wildlife in this oasis- is the control of mink - prevalent in this catchment, particularly in the river Mole and our stretch of the Thames. Male mink skin The skins emphasised the size difference between the male and female, with the latter able to gain access to a water vole burrow.The wildlife officer demonstrated the use of the mink rafts, which are in use at many wetland sites in south-west London. mink raft with the lid off This one is missing the roof to demonstrate the wet clay, which serves to reveal footprints of the visiting animals, to warn of the possible presence of mink. We were told that the rafts are no longer ...