University and college study opportunities for colleges or universities at Fowlescombe Farm

Possible areas of study include:

Scientific work related to wildlife and biodiversity
Comparative studies of different methods of farming and land management
Developing techniques for sustainable and organic farming, nutrient budgeting, energy issues
Economic studies of the farm and estate business, especially in relation to changes to the Common Agricultural Policy and global trade issues
The built environment, both historical and modern, and architectural forms
Art, ceramics or other studies, set against the background of our lovely estate

Energy production

With the wide range of habitat types, changes in estate management and the effects of climate change, there are many opportunities for scientific studies, for example, advanced species recording and monitoring, and comparative studies between different habitats and management methods. Anyone interested in systematic species monitoring or research projects is welcome to contact us. The historical and built landscape also offers a range of possible projects, with traditional and modern farm buildings, listed ruins, and award-winning architect designed barn conversions on site. The main house and gardens are also of considerable architectural interest. Land forms and land usage pattern, past and present, are of geographical and historical interest. Practical land management and / or animal husbandry activities may be available at times as part of a visit or short project.

Farm animals include a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus and Devon Ruby Red cattle, flocks of Hebridean and Manx Loaghtan rare breed sheep and a few chickens. The sheep are lambed in April but calving extends over several months. Educational activities to date have included whole farm case studies by undergraduates, practical training work by rural skills groups and species monitoring.

Please call to discuss if our site would be suitable for any activities or programme of study you hope to follow. To arrange a preliminary visit contact the farm on: 01548 821 000 at any time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. If you get the answer-phone please leave your name and number, and a good time to contact you, and we will call you back as soon as possible.

Our daughter setup a small company called All Fired Up in Devon - a local team of ceramics experts who offer ceramics and art projects and workshop to schools and colleges or other interested groups. These can be run at Fowlescombe in the Visitors Center

A Few Examples

Field Study

Many opportunities exist for general observation, identification and recording, including comparative studies as the farm has a good range of habitats and wildlife species. Visits at different times of the year or of the day add a further dimension. More advanced work could involve identification of more difficult species groups and comparative studies, such as quadrat studies of plant species in different fields. Projects on small mammals could range from analysis of owl pellets, Longworth trapping to compare the species mix in different habitats, or extended monitoring in one habitat such as recently planted woodland, where both change in season and the habitat itself as the trees grow will influence species composition and population. Is there any evidence that otters have found their way to the site? Which bat species use the farm and are they resident? Invertebrate work using pitfall traps, beating and sweeping is interesting and easy to set up for basic and more advanced study.

Biodiversity Work
Because the management objectives for the farm have changed it will be important to monitor whether we are succeeding. Permanent quadrats, for example, would allow long-term monitoring of plant species in the grasslands. Barn owls have returned to the site and successfully fledged a brood of three in 2001: perhaps other birds will return. The farm is on the edge of cirl bunting territory and a change in arable cropping patterns may encourage them on to site. Some bird species still found on site, such as bullfinch, skylark and house sparrow, are declining significantly nationally and within Devon. It would be useful to have ongoing counts on the numbers of these species breeding on site. Similarly, dragonfly or butterfly species and populations could be monitored to determine how they are responding to habitat and climate changes.