Heritage Archives -

St Kenelm’s Church, Oxfordshire

Overview

St Kenelm’s Church is a medieval building constructed in approximately 1450 and lies within the beautiful village of Minster Lovell and adjacent to Minster Lovell Hall (known as The Ruins).

Challenge

Works were extensive and included re-slating of roof slopes, masonry and pointing repairs and overhaul of the rainwater disposal system.

Approach

Working alongside the conservation architect (Arnold Bartosch Ltd.) we prepared a full European Protected Species Mitigation Licence (EPSML) after surveys confirmed the presence of five species of bat, including Serotine.

Outcome

Wildwood Ecology supervised the preliminary works across the church and installed mitigation measures on site.

Cirencester Park

Overview

Cirencester Park is Registered Grade I Listed Parkland. Arguably, the most famous walk in Cirencester Park is the Broad Avenue, with the first two thirds of a mile lined with Horse Chestnut trees, formally planted in the early 1800’s by Henry, the 3rd Earl Bathurst.

Challenge

There are thought to have been approximately 290 trees planted, in pairs opposite each other; and is likely to have been done in commemoration of victory at the Battle of Waterloo.

Of the original 290 plantings, just 92 remain on the Avenue and were fast coming to the end of their lives.

Approach

Wildwood Ecology surveyed these trees using various survey techniques for bats and other protected species between 2017 and 2019. A bat licence was obtained, and trees felled.

Outcome

In compensation for the loss of trees, Small Leaved Lime trees (Tilia Cordata) were planted. Various bat boxes were also erected, mainly for enhancement of Cirencester Park for bats.

Completed heritage project at Llwyn Celyn, Abergavenny

Llwyn Celyn, Monmouthshire

Overview

Located in the Llanthony Valley on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, Llwyn Celyn is regarded as one of the most remarkable of all surviving late-medieval houses in Wales. Wildwood Ecology was instructed to provide ecological support for the restoration of this series of historic buildings. Llwyn Celyn is now a fascinating and comfortable place to stay, with glorious views of the Skirrid and Sugar Loaf mountains.

Challenge

The site was in a perilous state, with water coursing from the hillside through the main house which had been protected by emergency scaffolding since the early 1990s. The site was also home to seven species of bats, including the rare lesser horseshoe. As such, it is one of the most complex restorations The Landmark Trust has ever undertaken.

The proposed works were for the restoration of a Grade 1 listed building and a series of historic barns, regarded by Cadw as one of the finest medieval hall houses in Wales.

Approach

Wildwood Ecology worked alongside John Goom Architects and local contractors I.J. Preece & Sons to design and implement specialist ecological services that enabled the successful restoration Llwyn Celyn, Monmouthshire and the protection of bats. Site surveys and assessment were undertaken between 2013 and 2016. On behalf of the client Wildwood Ecology provided the following ecological services:

Project management, including a preliminary roost assessment and a series of dusk emergence and pre-dawn bat roost surveys.
Identified the presence of a multiple roosts, including rare species bat (lesser horseshoe), within the main hall house and other historic barns.
Provided advice on the legal and planning policy issues and recommendations on how to address these.
Successful planning application to Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and subsequent mitigation licence to Natural Resources Wales.
Onward audit reports, discharge of planning and mitigation licence conditions and species monitoring to 2022.

Outcome

The Landmark Trust raised £4.2million to restore the site and carry out the associated programmes, including a 2.525m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Planning permission following all surveys was granted in 2016 in Monmouthshire and monitoring works are ongoing under close supervision by Wildwood Ecology.

Such was the success of the ecological work carried out in support of the restoration, Llwyn Celyn was shortlisted for Best Practice Mitigation Case Study in the 2021 Roost Awards. You can read the full case study here.