Written by: John Somerville-Hendrie
2024
The deer herd at Knole is well-known, but there's another resident whose numbers far exceed our furry friends! Between the 6th and 14th holes, in a naturalised area on the golf course, resides a species that has been at Knole for centuries: the small but mighty yellow meadow ant. These ants thrive in the acidic grasslands on the estate, creating unique ant villages that give the landscape an almost lunar appearance.
Each ant hill can house over 8,000 ants, although they generally go unseen unless disturbed. These hills are like icebergs, with much more happening beneath the surface. The nests can reach a meter in depth to access water for the colony. At the center of the colony is the queen, who can live for over 10 years, producing eggs to maintain the ant population. The depth of the nest is also used to store eggs at lower temperatures.
These ant hills attract additional species, including the green woodpecker, which can often be seen feeding on the hills.
