Plot 7 – Adjoining Plot 6
On the 7th of July we were informed that a 3.8 acre plot of land had come up for sale, right next to plot 6 and was due to be auctioned on July the 16th.
We were in two minds about entering the auction because we only had one week to raise the funds. We were then contacted a couple of days later by a local activist group informing us that they had stood in this very location trying to protect badgers from a cull.
For 15 years this incredible group of sabs have defended badgers here. We already knew that this area was right in the centre of other animal abuse and the shooting of wildfowl but to find out that badgers were being culled too, left us with no choice.
It has been a dream of the Vegan land Movement CIC to link and collaborate with other organisations fighting to end the suffering of animals and to save persecuted and endangered species. Collaborating and linking with the sabs in this area made the removal of this plot of land happen.
This is just one example of what we can achieve if we all work together.
Together we could be a larger force of change
So many organisations work alone when together we could be a larger force of change. We hope that this will not be the only collaboration of this type. Imagine the Hunt Sab organisations and other wildlife protectors all rallying to remove land from animal farming. These safe havens could then be created everywhere. The way land is used and abused along with all the persecuted creatures could be changed and the damage reversed.
Over the weekend of the 31st of October to the 3rd of November the Vegan Land Movement planted its second rare ‘Wet Woodland’ habitat on Plot 7.
This second future rare wet woodland habitat on 3.8 acres has now been joined to plot 6 (11.2 acres next door) to become a larger 15 acre haven for many species to flourish and find sanctuary, where no animals can be exploited, farmed or shot. We made a difference. These two fields are to become a research site for ‘wet woodlands’ to be monitored as species and biodiversity returns.
25 volunteers gathered for three days to walk the mile to plot 7, laden with spades, food and shelter to plant 1250 carefully selected trees to create a rare future wet woodland habitat. We also added several hundred more trees to plot 6, creating glades within the planting system.
Nine native wet woodland tree species were selected for their benefits to wildlife and a total of 1250 saplings were planted. Species and amounts planted listed below:
If you would like to read about rare wet woodlands, you can do so here. Most ancient wet woodlands have been lost. Many have been drained and converted to animal grazing. Floodplain wet woodlands are now almost completely gone due to animal farming. The VLM plans to reverse this by removing these grazing plots from animal farming for good.
As you may have seen plot 6, and then plot 7 were removed from harm with help from local badger sabs and a few days before this tree planting, these amazing people organized the transport of all the trees and materials to the site, with the help of a local friend’s trailer and pickup.
A huge thank you to all of the donors and tree planters. We battled against wind and driving rain but were undeterred.
We would also like to say a special thank you to Andrew Haining at eforests who donated the saplings and tree guards and came down especially to visit us at the planting sites.
Because the tree planting fell on Halloween this year we did have some challenges with a few ghosts and gouls but they didn’t hold us back! 😊
Moles
Finally another wonderful piece of news is that moles have moved onto plot 6. We saw three huge mole fortresses on this site that we have not seen before. A mole fortress is a large mound of earth weighing over 500kg, built by moles in areas prone to flooding or on hard, shallow soil. It contains a network of tunnels and a nest chamber lined with hay, and can also serve as a food store for immobilizing earthworms. These structures can be a lot larger than a typical molehill and offer insulation against cold and a dry refuge from water. We will keep monitoring these wonderful fortresses and share updates yearly.
Thank you to all of you for helping create these safe havens for wildlife to flourish. Compassion and hope can win out when we all work together.
Creating these safe places for wild creatures and nature is a WIN for ALL life. Animals can no longer be farmed or hunted on these fields. It’s a win for the climate too, locking in carbon in perpetuity.
It’s also a win for us, because without biodiversity we are lost.
