World Wildlife Day

03rd March 2024

Goodwood is a unique place, being a venue for both people and wildlife, balancing these needs is vital to the estate’s growth and preservation. Longevity of this symbiotic relationship will ensure that people and wildlife are able to continue to thrive here for years to come.

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A good example of this is our Motor Circuit venue. It is open all year round to the public and encompasses the track, two cafes, an aerodrome, airfield and many other functional buildings. Once a year, Goodwood also holds the Revival here, a historic race meeting with an immersive celebration of iconic cars and fashion. With such a large number of visitors across the site it is imperative to ensure that the local wildlife does not suffer as a result. So how does Goodwood balance nature’s needs with our own?

Andy Boxall, Head Groundsman at the Motor Circuit, is very proactive and keen to encourage wildlife and biodiversity to the area. With his guidance, the team have spent the last few winters creating new and enhancing old habitats where possible, to provide local wildlife with food sources and shelter they can rely on all year round. Allowing different team members to construct these areas of refuge allows our staff to connect with nature and be proud of the work they have done to support the local ecosystem.

Most recently, our team has built a series of new bug hotels, all of which have been placed in different areas across the Circuit. These are beneficial to three different types of insects which are pollinators, decomposers and predators, this variation improves the biodiversity of the venue. The hotels also provide insects with protection from larger predators such as birds.

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Bird and bat boxes have also been installed around the motor circuit to support those further up the food chain. The pedestrian walkways provide perfect dry dark areas for the bats to hibernate during the winter and the higher eaves of the Motor Circuit buildings provide great nesting places for swifts and house martins.

Where possible, the team has also left banks and verges uncut to be turned into rough areas, not only does this provide smaller mammals, insects and birds with places to nest and shelter, it also conserves water and attracts pollinators. If you walk along the perimeter track (accessible to the public), you will walk past a couple of areas covered in brambles that have been left purposely to support birds, such as our resident green woodpecker. A real treat!

In providing teams across the estate with the support to create these amazing habitats, we hope that we can positively impact not only staff well-being but also improve our ability and knowledge on how to maintain and more importantly, enhance, our relationship with the local wildlife.