Benefits of Brownfield Sites
What kind of wildlife is typically found on brownfield sites?
Brownfield sites can host a surprising variety of wildlife. This includes a range of plants, from early-successional species like colt's-foot and rosebay willowherb to flowering plants that provide nectar, and even orchids in some instances. Invertebrates are particularly abundant, including various bees, solitary wasps, jumping spiders, and beetles. Reptiles such as slow-worms and common lizards, amphibians like newts and common frogs, and birds like black redstarts and little ringed plovers can also be found. Mammals such as hedgehogs, small mammals, bats, and dormice may also utilise these sites.
Brownfield sites offer several beneficial features for invertebrates. They often have abundant flowering plants which are excellent nectar sources. Bare ground, rubble, and exposed concrete provide warm areas for basking, foraging, and burrowing. Additionally, scrubby areas offer shelter and structural diversity. These varied microhabitats contribute to the high invertebrate diversity found on these sites.
The initial vegetation on brownfield sites is often characterised as ephemeral/short perennial. This includes low-growing plants such as greater plantain, creeping buttercup, clover, black medick, colt’s-foot, oxeye daisy, and ragwort species. Taller ruderal herbs like rosebay willowherb and common nettle are also frequently found.
The unique physical characteristics of brownfield sites are a key factor in their wildlife value. Features like bare ground, rubble, and exposed concrete provide warmth for basking reptiles and invertebrates. The thin, skeletal soils with varied chemical content and pH, resulting from past human activity, support specific plant communities. The dynamic and early-successional vegetation offers habitats and resources that are becoming less common in other landscapes.
Yes, brownfield sites can be species-rich, and some are considered worthy of legal protection specifically because of the species and types of wildlife they support. This highlights the ecological importance these sites can gain over time.
While various birds can colonise structures, some species have a strong association with brownfield habitats. Historically, the Black Redstart saw a significant population increase in London following WW2, breeding on bomb sites and derelict buildings. The Little Ringed Plover is another bird species particularly linked to brownfield flooded quarry sites.
'Early-successional species' are those that thrive in the initial stages of ecological succession. Brownfield sites, being disturbed and often in the early stages of ecological recovery, provide the ideal conditions for these species to colonise and flourish. They benefit from the often open ground, limited competition from established vegetation, and specific soil conditions found on these sites.
Scrubby areas on brownfield sites provide additional shelter and structural diversity, particularly benefiting invertebrates and supporting species associated with scrub habitats like hedgehogs. Grassy areas can support small mammals, and when combined with hedges, can act as important corridors for the movement of mammals such as bats and dormice.