Summer visitors depart

Have not seen the swallows for a few days now so I think that they have migrated south. They lined up on the wires last weekend. I think this is two pairs, each with two young.

This year we have only had two nests and maybe four young fledged. This is a big change from 15 years ago when we had 5 or 6 nests each with sometimes two broods in a year. It may just be local variation, but I worry that the declining insect numbers are to blame. The Insect Armageddon is plain to see every time I look at the clean car windscreen after a summer drive. It did not used to be this way, widespread use of pesticides in farming is the most likely cause. Our wildflower meadow is just not large enough to mitigate the effects of the surrounding industrial farmlands. For the last two springs our masonry bee hives have died off overnight the day the surrounding field was sprayed, probably as the bees range over a larger area than just the wildflower meadow.

It is amazing to think that these swallows will be in Southern Africa in 4 weeks time. Not a bad place to spend the winter!

Meadow cutting

Keeping the grass short after the July hay cut is important to let light and air down to the wildflower seeds. Having failed to harrow the meadow this year I am not sure that the seeds dropped during haymaking have made the best contact with the earth, so long grass is definitely worth avoiding.

The grass had got to about 8 to 10 cm, so using the highest setting on a ride-on mower brought it down to about 4cm.

I tried to cut around the meadow cranesbill which is growing strongly, am not sure if this is right, but I worry that repeated cutting when it is using up so much energy will weaken the plants for the winter. However leaving uncut areas around the cranesbill gives a very ‘patchy’ look to the meadow.

I like this, as it gives variety of habitat rather than on uniform environment. One of my main objectives on a small piece of land is to maximise diversity of habitat, even if it leaves the field looking a bit odd.

We have maybe grown so accustom to the uniform farmed fields of monocrops that are so sterile for wildlife that seeing a ‘patchy’ field looks odd.

I may have to do another cut in about 3 or 4 weeks time. I wish that there was some way of picking up the cuttings to take more nutrients out of the ground, but the mower becomes full quickly that this is just not practical.

Let there be light

 I am trying to increase the plant interest of the hedgerow between the wildflower meadow and the woodland. To allow light in to the seedlings at the bottom of the hedge I am cutting the long grass that is blocking the light from reaching the developing plants. 

The front bar cutting mower allows a cut close to the hedge:

Once cut the grass needs to be dragged out from the hedge. The hay rake is ideal for t hi s:

Once dragged out the grass is rolled up using the rake, and then the pitchfork is ideal for picking up the roll to lug to the grass heap:

The end result is that the plants at the bottom of the hedge, such as Red campion, self heal and garlic mustard, get a chance to grow.

Going bats

Two bat boxes were occupied within about 6 weeks of being put up. One is south facing, the other west facing to get the evening sun.

Signs of occupation were so good that I had to put up a shelf to catch the bat droppings.

Such a good illustration of the benefit of making space for nature. Create the right environment and wildlife will take advantage of  it.

Summer nectar source

 Hemp agrimony seems to be a great nectar source now that there are no wildflowers in the meadow. There were 5 Red Admirals and lots of bumble bees feeding in this photo.

I have been growing some more Agrimony from last years seed and they are now outgrowing their pots.

So I have been planting them out in groups. Preparing the ground by either digging an area or using Roundup to decrease competition from coarse grasses.

It may be a bit soon to plant out as the ground was rock solid and I will have to carry water to keep them going through the rest of the summer. However, if I can keep them watered they will have a good long time to get established before winter.

I found this leopard slug under one of the pots.

Turning of the year

 Cutting the meadow is always a happy/sad time. Sad to see the departure of such a vibrant plant and insect community. Happy that we are literally sowing the seeds of next year’s explosion of life.

Harrowing and Seeding

 Field harrowing is an important part of the natural cycle of the meadow. I have taken the opportunity to add in some seeds - ox eye daisy, bird’s foot trefoil, bedstraw and rattle.

Having about 20% bare earth allows seeds to germinate. This year we have been very late in harrowing so there may not be time for the seeds to germinate - 3 weeks ago would have been much better.

If there is a mild and damp spell over the next few weeks germination will still happen. As the grass is growing very quickly, so I am going to need to cut it to let the light into the seeds to allow them to grow.

I plan to put some more rattle in towards the end of the winter.