Keeping the grasses down 12 May 2017

Now that the grass has been topped, Maggie, Ian and I went up and spent a morning strimming (electric and petrol cutters) and scything by hand.

Maggie enjoyed the scything, while Ian and I had ear-defenders on due to the noise.

This will help to keep down the coarser grasses and creeping thistle and allow the trees some space.

Keeping the grass down - May 2017

We are very grateful to Chris and Gail who brought their tractor and topper to top the grass paths of the spiral maze today.  Without this help, it was difficult to see where the trees were growing. 

Grass Path - First Lap

Grass Paths - Lap One and Two

Grass Path - Lap Two

Top of the Mound - 2012 Trees - Lap Three

We will also use some brush-cutters to trim around the trees within their hedgerows later this week.  The ground is still rough, but at least we can walk round the spiral maze now.

Spring 2017

2012 Rowan in bloom

On Friday 28th April a group of us went to check on the trees and pull out some of the grasses from their base.  They have grown well already this Spring.  Some of the older trees from 2012 and 2014 are well above head-height.  I think the tallest Rowan is now 8 feet high.  One Rowan has its first flower-head.  Similarly the Red Dogwood has flowers.  These will provide pollen and nectar for insects and later on, berries for the birds.

2014 Red Dogwood with flower buds

We still have two Alder Buckthorn bushes, planted in 2013, which is the food-plant for the bright yellow Brimstone butterfly caterpillar.  This Spring there is no sign yet of any eggs or caterpillars on them.

Alder Buckthorn 2013

In a Biodiversity Area, plants considered as weeds in gardens, have a value.  The dandelions provide early nectar for bees, whereas the dandelion clocks provide seeds for goldfinches, which I have seen in our patch.

Dandelion clock

There are lots of Red Admiral butterfly caterpillars on the nettles, enclosed in their nettle 'tents' and I found an interesting brown spider asleep on a holly leaf - possibly an Orb spider.