We try to encourage wildlife and diversity at Brackenrigg. And have been awarded with a Natural England sponsored Biodiversity Award Brackenrigg is a case study in Natural England's influential 'Natural Economy' Report

We are fortunate to have a number of birds, mammals, insects, spiders and amphibians visitors here and do our best to provide them with the habitats they need.

Red Squirrels: we have 4 red squirrels that visit daily – two with bushy light brown tails and two with almost bronze coloured tails. We have 4 feeders close to the cottages so you can watch from your windows. We liaise with Save Our Squirrels to watch out for greys in the area.

Our Badgers are particularly active in the early autumn – and come into the gardens regularly at this time. They have several large sets in our woods – shy and nocturnal, you need to be out at dusk and very quiet to see them!

Roe Deer are regularly seen in our wood – and we have one large Red Deer with wonderful antlers that comes into the field at twilight mainly in the Spring and Autumn.

We have pipistrel bats in the roof of our own house – you’ll see them, and children may hear them, all through the summer months catching insects on the wing.

Our owls – both tawny and barn – are testament to the abundance of small mammals here. You’ll hear both owls at night, and often if you’re back late in the evening you’ll surprise our owls into swooping across the drive-way. We see buzzards and kestrels during the day.