Reclaimed Materials Create A Multi-Species Wildlife Tower

At Honeygar Farm in Somerset, architecture and construction studio PEARCE+ has designed and built a habitat tower that supports a wide range of local wildlife. Created for Somerset Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Tower 01 uses reclaimed agricultural and construction materials to provide nesting, roosting and shelter opportunities within a regenerating wetland landscape.

Shared Ecological Infrastructure

Honeygar is a former dairy farm in the Avalon Marshes that is undergoing extensive peatland and wetland restoration. The new tower forms part of this changing landscape and offers habitats for bats, barn owls, little owls, kestrels, swifts, invertebrates, amphibians and small mammals.

Instead of designing a conventional wildlife box for one species, PEARCE+ combined several habitat types in a single structure. The result is a piece of shared ecological infrastructure in which different materials, openings and sheltered areas respond to the needs of multiple species.

Reclaimed Materials From The Landscape

The tower was built predominantly from materials found on the farm or recovered from nearby Somerset Wildlife Trust sites. Reclaimed larch walkway boards came from local nature reserves, while corrugated steel sheets were salvaged from former barn roofs. Paving slabs, concrete rubble and masonry were recovered from deteriorating farm buildings and floors.

This material palette connects the tower to Honeygar’s agricultural history. At the same time, it gives discarded components a new function without removing all traces of their former use.

At ground level, reclaimed stone, concrete and masonry form loosely assembled piers. Deliberate gaps, crevices and recesses create damp, sheltered habitats for species such as newts, slow worms, insects and small mammals.

Layered Habitats Above Ground

Higher up, stacked layers of reclaimed larch form the tower’s walls and supporting legs. Variations between the boards produce cavities, ledges and projecting perches that can be occupied by insects and smaller birds.

Species-specific nesting and roosting boxes are integrated into the upper structure. Meanwhile, the sheltered but open spaces between the legs create courtyard-like conditions that provide additional protection for bats and birds.

Wildlife Tower 01 demonstrates how reclaimed materials can contribute to ecological restoration as well as circular construction. By transforming building waste and agricultural remnants into a carefully designed habitat, PEARCE+ has created a new landmark that supports biodiversity while reflecting the history and ongoing regeneration of Honeygar Farm.

Source: PEARCE+
Photos: Sam Bray