Posted 23/07/2026

As part of the ancient woodland restoration work being carried out by the Forest of Marston Vale Trust at Reynolds & Holcot Woods, we have begun a long-term programme of ecological monitoring to assess the woodlands’ health and biodiversity.

Throughout spring 2026, we carried out a wide range of ecological surveys, collecting data on everything from the woodlands’ tree canopy cover and birdsong to camera trap footage and bottle trapping to identify the Woodland's resident newt species. Together, these surveys will help us measure how biodiversity responds to woodland management over time, while providing valuable evidence that carefully planned restoration benefits both wildlife and the wider woodland ecosystem.

The first stage of the project has established a baseline assessment, recording the woodlands’ current condition so we can measure the impact of restoration over time and ensure future management is guided by robust evidence. Our forestry team, trainees, volunteers and specialist surveyors carried out a range of ecological surveys across the woodlands. The results have already revealed an impressive variety of wildlife.

Revealing Holcot’s hidden wildlife

One of the highlights of the survey programme was an evening bat survey carried out by our team alongside local bat specialists Phil Cannings and Madison Varney.

Using ultrasonic bat detectors, thermal imaging binoculars and fixed recording equipment, we surveyed predefined transects (routes) throughout the woodland after dusk. The surveys recorded five bat species during the first evening alone:

• Common pipistrelle
• Soprano pipistrelle
• Noctule
• Daubenton's bat
• Barbastelle

Perhaps most exciting was the recording of a barbastelle bat. This rare woodland species was previously recorded at Holcot around 20 years ago, with no confirmed records since. Its return suggests the woodland is now providing valuable habitat for this elusive species.

Further analysis of audio recordings taken throughout the night also identified the brown long-eared bat, adding another species to Holcot's growing bat list. Future surveys will help us better understand how bats use different parts of the woodlands throughout the year.

We also set up camera traps to capture images and videos of the woodlands’ mammals. While we suspected species such as badgers and foxes had made Holcot their home, the cameras provided the evidence we needed (below). Every new recording helps us build a clearer picture of the mammals using the site and demonstrates how important these restored habitats are for supporting a diverse range of wildlife.

A remarkable Dawn Chorus

A static audio recorder was placed in Holcot Wood and recorded continuously from early evening through to the following morning. The recorder captured an extraordinary snapshot of bird activity, generating 69 separate recordings and identifying at least 49 bird species. These included woodland residents, wetland species and nocturnal birds.

Notable records included:

• Barn owl
• Tawny owl
• Eurasian woodcock
• Water rail
• Marsh tit
• Nuthatch
• Yellowhammer
• Green woodpecker
• Bullfinch
• Siskin

The surveys also recorded a variety of waterbirds associated with Holcot's ponds, including great crested grebe, gadwall, teal, mallard, moorhen and coot.

Some species were recorded flying over the site overnight rather than using the woodland directly, a monitoring technique known as Nocturnal Migration Recording (NocMig). Preliminary analysis has suggested the possibility of bittern and firecrest, although this requires further verification.

Together, these findings demonstrate the importance of Holcot Wood and its surrounding habitats for a wide variety of birdlife throughout the day and night.

Pond biodiversity: A healthy freshwater habitat

As part of our wider ecological monitoring programme, one of the woodland ponds was surveyed to assess the health and biodiversity of its freshwater habitat.

The survey focused on newts using a method called bottle trapping, where specially designed traps create a funnel that allows newts to enter and be temporarily held for identification before being safely released. Although this may sound invasive, the surveys were carried out with the utmost care by our Senior Ranger, Nicola Ceconi, who is specially trained and licensed to undertake this process

When the traps were checked the following morning, our volunteers recorded three male smooth newts, all of which were identified and carefully returned to the pond. Smooth newts are one of the UK's most widespread amphibians and their presence is a positive indicator of good-quality freshwater habitat. The team also recorded a water boatman, an important aquatic invertebrate that forms part of a healthy freshwater food web, providing prey for amphibians, birds and other wildlife.

These records provide encouraging evidence that the pond is supporting a diverse range of species and offer an important baseline as we continue monitoring the biodiversity of Holcot Wood's freshwater habitats throughout the restoration project.

Measuring the woodland canopy

As well as surveying wildlife, we also monitored the woodland itself. Using a specially designed canopy survey tool developed from research at the University of Helsinki, we measured how much light filters through the tree canopy at fixed locations across the woodland. We paired this with ground flora surveys, recording the plants growing beneath the trees to better understand how different management techniques are influencing the woodland over time.

The results are already providing valuable insights. Areas that have yet to be managed had the densest canopy and thick ground cover, but these were often dominated by a smaller number of plant species. In contrast, recently coppiced areas allowed more light to reach the woodland floor, encouraging a greater variety of plants to establish. By repeating these surveys each year, we'll be able to track how the woodland responds to restoration, helping us make informed decisions about future management to support biodiversity, natural regeneration and a healthier, more resilient woodland.

Building a picture of woodland recovery

The remarkable variety of wildlife recorded during this spring's surveys highlights the rich biodiversity already thriving across Reynolds and Holcot Woods and provides an encouraging baseline as our restoration work continues.

Alongside these species’ surveys, our woodland condition assessment has shown clear signs of progress. Since 2024, the overall score has increased from 23/39 ('Poor') to 30/39 ('Moderate'), reflecting the positive impact that targeted woodland management is already having. Improvements to woodland structure, natural regeneration, tree health and ground flora are helping to create better habitats for wildlife, while ongoing replanting and long-term management will continue to strengthen the woodland's resilience.

These early results demonstrate that restoring ancient woodland is already delivering tangible benefits for nature. We look forward to continuing our monitoring programme and sharing how Reynolds and Holcot Woods continue to recover in the years ahead.

The project is a collaborative effort between The Forest of Marston Vale Trust, the University of Cumbria and a range of specialist academic and nature-based partners. The restoration of Holcot Wood has been made possible through the support of The Nature Recovery Project and Rebel Restoration, whose shared aim is to reverse nature loss both here in the UK and globally.

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If you have any questions about our work in Reynolds & Holcot Woods get in touch with our Community Forester, Luke Quenby.