pile of soil against green defocussed background

What's Living Beneath Our Feet: Ironhurst Valley's Soil Comes Alive

21st July 2026

Before a single hedge is planted or a pond is dug at Ironhurst Valley, we wanted to know what was already happening out of sight. So, before any restoration work begins above ground, we went looking for life below it. And it turns out the soil is already buzzing — home to thousands of species of bacteria, fungi, and tiny invertebrates, all quietly working to rebuild a healthy ecosystem.

How we did it

We collected eight soil samples from across the reserve and sent them off for environmental DNA (eDNA) testing. It's a clever technique that picks up traces of genetic material left behind in the soil, meaning we can detect species without ever seeing or catching them. The results give us a snapshot of three key groups: bacteria, fungi, and soil invertebrates — think worms, mites, springtails, and more.

Because this is our Year 0 baseline, there's no pass or fail here. It's simply a starting photograph — one we'll compare future surveys against to track how the soil community changes as the reserve recovers from years of arable farming.

The headline numbers

420 -490

distinct types of bacteria per sample, indicating a rich, diverse community
36 -156

distinct types of fungi per sample, varying a lot across the site
13 -27

distinct types of invertebrates per sample, spanning 13 major animal groups

One thing jumps out: the fungal numbers vary far more than the bacterial ones. That's a common pattern in soil science — fungal communities tend to be patchier across a site, while bacteria spread more evenly.

The fungi tell a "recovery in progress" story

We grouped the fungi we found by what they actually do for a living, and the picture that emerges is exactly what you'd hope to see at the start of a long recovery.

Decomposers (69% of fungal activity) — by far the largest group. These fungi break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil. Their dominance fits a site that still has plenty of leftover plant material and woody debris to work through — typical of land in the early stages of leaving arable use behind.

Pathogens & parasites (13%) — notably lower than typical arable or grassland soils, which is an encouraging sign of a less disturbed, more ecologically functional soil.

Mutualists (18%) — fungi that form beneficial partnerships with plant roots, like mycorrhizal fungi. This is the smallest group, and that's expected: these partnerships take years or decades to establish, depending on the right plants and slow-growing underground networks. Their current low level is a natural feature of an early-stage transition, not a concern.

In short: the soil fungi are busy recycling nutrients, largely free of disease, and the beneficial root-partner fungi haven't caught up yet — exactly what you'd expect at the start of a long recovery.

Bacteria: A genuinely diverse foundation

The bacterial community is dominated by well-known, broadly beneficial soil groups — including Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Planctomycetota. This is the kind of varied bacterial "background crew" found in healthy, functioning soils, underpinning everything from nutrient cycling to plant health.

Invertebrates: The soil already has multiple layers of life

Even at this early stage, the soil supports a surprising range of small animals.

35 species of nematodes (roundworms), 15 of mites and ticks, and 9 springtail species were found. Together, these three groups form the classic "decomposer trio" of healthy soil food webs.

Rotifers and tardigrades ("water bears") were also detected. Both need thin films of moisture to survive, suggesting the site's soils retain good moisture — consistent with its connection to the local river catchment.

Centipedes, flatworms, and predatory mites show that multiple feeding levels — from decomposers up to predators — are already present, another sign of a developing food web.

Larger animals like earthworms are harder to detect reliably with this method, so their true numbers on site are likely higher than the single species recorded here.

What this means for Ironhurst Valley

This baseline paints the picture of soil that is biologically rich and already functioning, but still early in its journey from arable land to restored habitat:

Disease-causing fungi are already lower than typical farmed soils.

Nutrient recycling (decomposition) is working hard.

The beneficial fungal partnerships that support mature habitats haven't built up yet — but that's expected, not a problem, at Year 0.

A genuinely diverse cast of small invertebrates and bacteria is already present, giving the food web something to build on.

Repeating this survey in future years will let us track whether mutualistic fungi increase, pathogen levels stay low, and invertebrate diversity grows — the key signs that Ironhurst Valley is progressing toward a fully recovered, species-rich habitat.