Like London buses, no posts for a while, then 2 in 2 days!

Many thanks to Andrew and Helen Martin for the very interesting feedback, and images below, about their experiences of using imported Yellow Rattle seed as a means of weakening grass growth and encouraging floral diversity in their meadows at Ffos y Broga, Dryslwyn:

Our meadow here at Ffos y Broga, though we call it “the top field” is very much more lowland than Gelli Uchaf.

It too is responding well to warm temperatures and no shortage of water.  This is the one shown being cut for haylage in a previous post of ours.  Like Julian and Fiona’s meadow, it is very dense with yellow rattle.  We decided some time back that there is good reason to intervene in meadow restoration to the extent of helping the yellow rattle establish:

http://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/129

We originally sowed strips of yellow rattle in slots cut in the turf across the field using seeds we collected from a neighbour’s meadow in autumn 2014, and again in autumn 2015.

But it has really taken off this year.  We think it’s because the haybob (see previous post on haymaking) is particularly good at flinging the seeds about as well as fluffing up the grass for drying, so rather than being in mainly discrete strips it’s now ubiquitous.  Like Julian, we were a bit concerned that we were creating a Rhinanthus monoculture, but others (including Chris and Rosie Plummer, the owners of the field where we collected the seeds) tell us they have found it reaches a peak after a few years and then settles down at a lower density, presumably in equilibrium with the grasses on which it is hemiparasitic.

This year, we are also managing the neighbouring field (known by the inspired name of “the middle field”) as a wildflower meadow.

Last autumn we sowed three strips of yellow rattle seed across this field as well. Rather than cutting slots in the turf to sow the seeds into as we had with the top field, we just used a mower to cut the strips and scattered the seeds in the short grass, enlisting the help of some sheep to tread them in. They have germinated very well.

Until a couple of years ago both top and middle field had exactly the same management – they were sheep grazed, and there was no effective fence between them so the sheep had the run of both.  As far as we know this had been the case the case for at least 15 years.  However, they are not the same in terms of flora.  For example, in the wetter parts of both there are areas of soft rush (Juncus effusus), but the middle field also has quite a lot of what we believe to be field woodrush, (above – we are happy to be corrected by anyone that knows better) of which there is very little in the top field.  There has always been more common birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) in the middle field as well, although more is now appearing in the top field, as is greater birdsfoot trefoil.  The top field is currently yellow with meadow buttercup (they both have creeping buttercup in the wetter areas), but middle field also has thyme-leaved speedwell which we don’t see much of in the top field…

and one of the hawkish complex which we believe to be cat’s ear…

just coming into flower.  We’ll see what happens as the year rolls on…

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Please see the separate events pages for details on all the other upcoming meadow visits, but some additional ones are listed below.

Many thanks to Isabel Macho for collating these :

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                             Talk and walk at Cae Blaen Dyffryn

Meet at Carreg Hirfaen School, Treherbert St, Cwmann, Lampeter SA48 8EP

Sunday 19^th June

1pm – 3pm

This is a great opportunity to find out more about the Coronation Meadows project which is transforming meadows across Wales and beyond. There will also be a visit to Cae Blaen Dyffryn – a Plantlife reserve and also part of the Coronation Meadows project. This site is rich in grasses, ferns and wild flowers including the rare greater butterfly-orchid, lesser butterfly-orchid and moonwort. You’ll find out about how the reserve is managed and the changes it has seen in species over recent years.

The first half of the session will be indoors where there will be a talk from Coronation Meadows Project Manager, Dan Merrett. We will then head to the reserve for a guided walk with Colin Cheesman, Head of Plantlife Cymru.

To book your free place please contact Helen Bradley, Outreach Officer by helen.bradley@plantlife.org.uk or 02920 376193 by Monday 6^th June.

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Carmarthenshire Meadows Group – Summer Social

Dinefwr National Trust, Llandeilo

Wednesday 29^th June

10.00 am-12.45pm

 

Come along for a relaxed morning at the beautiful Dinefwr Park. We’ll begin in Newton House with talks from PONT on conservation grazing and also from Plantlife Cymru on what plants can reveal about the health of a meadow.

 

After some tea and cakes, we’ll take a short stroll to the meadow in the grounds of Newton House to find out more about its history and management from the National Trust and take a look at the wild flowers that are in bloom.

 

To book your free place please contact Helen Bradley, Outreach Officer by helen.bradley@plantlife.org.uk or 02920 376193 by Monday 6^th June

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Thanks for reading.