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2012
Starting this season's hedging activities
2nd December
Several of the group continued with hedgelaying on a chilly day in the meadow. We cut stakes from trees in the copse, knocking them in at intervals along the hedge. Trunks and shoots were selected (pleachers) and partially cut through near their bases, and pushed down diagonally into the hedge, weaving them between the stakes. Finally long, thin branches (heathering) were plaited along the top, between the stakes, to hold the new shape of the hedge in place. The group also trimmed other parts of the hedge, weaving branches in to fill in gaps, and freed some younger hawthorn saplings from the undergrowth that was stifling them.
November's tasks
4th November
The Sunday workday was a wash-out due to the amount of water saturating the field. However, various group members came along later in the week and cleared the path beside the new hedge, dug up some of the hogweed from the field, and planted some foxgloves, primroses and campion.
9th AGM
15th October
We filled one bar of the Three Crowns with all the people who attended our AGM ! Progress during the year was discussed. Here is a list of our activities during the last year in the meadow. About 900 plug plants went into the meadow this year. We look forward to seeing them in flower next summer. The strange weather this year seemed to mean fewer flowers and fewer butterflies. Discussions on future tasks included continuing with hedgelaying.
Plants & Pots
6th October
We spent the workday finishing the wildflower planting for this year with another hundred or so in the meadow. The other job was the less glamorous one of washing off the pots and trays !
More wildflower planting
28th September
The farmer cut the field for hay a couple of weeks ago, so it's safe to plant out the wildflowers that were grown from seed collected in August 2011. Several people helped to plant 450 plug plants, including knapweeds, betony and Devil's-bit scabious into the meadow on Thursday and Friday.
More battling nettles and brambles
2nd September
Another damp workday saw us again clearing nettles and brambles from beside the path on the south side of the meadow. The burdocks near the cycle path were cut down to stop them dropping their seeds and spreading into the meadow. These plants are perennials and have pretty flowers that are attractive to insects. They will shoot again and soon be several feet tall, providing food for the insects next summer.
Moth and Bat Evening at the Meadow
10th August
The event was well attended with about two dozen people, including children. Paul Darby of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust gave a short talk about looking for bats and using the bat detectors that he had brought with him. Once the light had faded a little, we walked alongside the river, spotting a dragonfly, which was a little unexpected. When we walked over the blue bridge we picked up the clicks of pipistrelle bats on the detectors and could see them flying very low over the river, where they were catching insects. There were also some pipistrelle bats higher up, swooping between the large trees on the nearby golf course. Meanwhile Michael Sammes set up a bright light beside a white sheet on the brambles at the corner of the meadow to attract moths. Despite only waiting a short time, several different species of moth settled on the material and were identified, including Ruby Tiger, Common Carpet and Brimstone moth.
Battling nettles and brambles
5th August
The August workday, apart from coping with showers and approaching thunder, was spent clearing nettles and brambles from the edges of the paths and from around the wildflowers that were planted last month. The grass and nettles had grown considerably in the wet weather, but the meadow has looked attractive with wildflowers, even the new Field Scabious plants have managed to show their flowers above the other vegetation.
Wildflower planting
1st July
Many people came along to help on the July workday, despite the light rain. The strange weather we have had this season seems to have delayed flowering, but the meadow should be at its best in the next few weeks, a couple of weeks later than last year. Do pop along to admire the knapweeds, scabious, meadow cranesbill, bird's-foot trefoil and others. Also have a look at our gallery of photographs of the meadow.
A damp June workday
3rd June
On a rather damp morning several of us did some work in the meadow, which is currently full of yellow buttercups and white cow parsley. We cut off many of the hog weed flower heads as we don't want them to go to seed. A few are ok but they dominate if not controlled. A large area of stinging nettles and long grass was cleared with scythes. These are the best means of cutting grass when it's wet. Again we don't mind having some stinging nettles in the meadow (it's the food plant for the Peacock and Red Admiral butterfly) but they do spread so need to be weakened by frequent cutting.
May's tasks
6th May
Luckily our workday was on one of the few dry days recently ! Several of us pricked out many wildflower seedlings that will be planted into the meadow later in the year. See the Gallery for a photo. We also mowed the paths and many of the rapidly-growing nettles, and also put into the meadow a few of the plants grown last year from seed.
Spring activities
1st April
With a good turnout of 10 people, we managed to get many tasks done. We planted primroses under the trees beside the cycle path, and primroses and campion beside our hedge. There are several primroses currently in flower around the edges of the area. Many of the newly-emerging nettles were mown so that the paths remain pleasant to walk along. Some weeding was done under the newest part of the hedge and brash piled behind it as protection. To keep the meadow looking good for everyone passing through, we did some litter-picking and graffiti-removal.
More hedgelaying
4th March
After waiting for the rain to clear, three of us continued with a few more metres of hedgelaying. Have a look at the workdays photographs in the Gallery.
Hedgelaying
3rd February
On a cold morning with the snow melting in the meadow, several of us continued with the hedgelaying and have now completed several metres.