The Gwent Grassland Initiative

Dry Stone Walls and Wildlife
 

Dry-stone walls are more than just a field boundary or a barrier for containing stock. They give beauty and character to rural landscapes. They are valuable habitats for wildlife, providing refuges from predators and acting as wildlife corridors for the movement of species. They also tell us about the history of a place and connect us with our past. Yet they are often threatened by destruction and decay.

Function of dry-stone walls:

Dry-stone walls are a practical yet attractive form of field boundary built without mortar or cement. This allows the wall to settle into the landscape, and gives strength and resilience to survive harsh climates and frosts. Walls can often be dated by the lichens on their surfaces, or by the age of artefacts found buried in them. From this we know that many stone walls are hundreds and even thousands of years old.

Dry-stone walls are the dominant field boundaries where rocky outcrops are common, the soil is thin and the climate is too harsh for hedgerows. But some lowland, more fertile regions also boast their share of walls, often with an earth bank at the bottom. Although costly to build, they last for decades and prove more economical than fences in the long term.

Importance for wildlife:

Britain's flora and fauna owe much to the traditional dry stone walls that provide varied and valuable habitats for a whole range of wild plants and creatures, including the common frog . Dry-stone walls:

Dry-stone walls are in effect, one huge linear nature reserve and merit preservation. A little care and imagination when repairing and rebuilding will enhance these important habitats and thus help to protect the great variety of wildlife living in and around them.

Tips for dry-stone wall owners:

To some wildlife, semi-dereliction is more attractive than a tightly-built wall, since there are more sheltered spaces and more is covered in soil. However such a state is relatively short lived. Once reduced to less than half its height, a wall's habitat value is considerably reduced. Thus walls need to be sympathetically maintained to provide varied habitats.

Adjacent trees and shrubs can push a wall over, so control of these is vital. A strip two feet wide each side should be kept free of vigorous shrubs and trees, and branches near the wall top should be lopped; a trim every few years is usually sufficient. Roots from nearby large trees can be bridged to allow co-existence. New stone is often bare and weathering should be encouraged, perhaps by adding a little soil inside or splattering the face with manure. Walls made from existing or reclaimed stone should be rebuilt with the weathering and lichen outermost.

Adjacent trees and shrubs can push a wall over, so control of these is vital. A strip two feet wide each side should be kept free of vigorous shrubs and trees, and branches near the wall top should be lopped; a trim every few years is usually sufficient. Roots from nearby large trees can be bridged to allow co-existence. New stone is often bare and weathering should be encouraged, perhaps by adding a little soil inside or splattering the face with manure. Walls made from existing or reclaimed stone should be rebuilt with the weathering and lichen outermost.

GWT often runs dry-stone walling course for those wanting to learn the skilled art of dry-stone walling. We also have details of professional dry-stone wallers who work in Gwent. Please contact GWT for more information.