Hilgay Heronry
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL635992 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 1.8 | 2009-04-08 |
Birds & fish recorded
Birds
| Species | Season |
|---|---|
| grey heron | Breeding |
Description
Area, 1.82 hectares 4.5 ac Description Hilgay Heronry is a small copse on the edge of the Fens which supports a nationally important breeding colony of grey heron Ardea cinerea. There is an average of about 40occupied nests each year in the mature trees of European larch Larix decidua and ash Fraxinus excelsior. The nearby fenland with an extensive system of drainage dykes provides ideal feeding conditions for the birds.
Species mentioned
Show the 3 species mentioned in the description, with red-list status| English name search for this in other sites |
Latin name search with Google |
IUCN / Red List | Type | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| grey heron | Ardea cinerea | LC (NonBreeding), NT (Breeding) | bird-heron | ardeidae |
| ash | Fraxinus excelsior | LC | tree | oleaceae |
| larch | Larix decidua | Not listed in GB list | tree | pinaceae |
Insects to look out for
These moths, butterflies and beetles are known to feed on plants recorded at this site, and carry a notable UK conservation status — but a host-plant being present doesn't mean the insect has actually been recorded here. Treat this as "worth watching for," not a confirmed sighting.
| Species | Status | Via host-plant |
|---|---|---|
| The sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Broom moth Ceramica pisi |
Vulnerable | Larix spp. |
| Pale brindled Phigalia pilosaria |
Vulnerable | Fraxinus excelsior, Larix spp. |
| Dusky thorn Ennomos fuscantaria |
Near Threatened | Fraxinus excelsior |
| Larch pug Eupithecia lariciata |
Near Threatened | Larix decidua |
Host-plant data: Cook et al. (2025), Traits data for the butterflies and macro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland, 2024, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology / Butterfly Conservation; and Padovani et al. (2020), Database of Insects and their Food Plants (DBIF), UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (both Open Government Licence). Contains data supplied by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.