Meadow and path maintenance

We've had Ian Tunstill in over the weekend to cut the Wildflower Meadow; as expected yield is down due to the drought and the Hay Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) doing an excellent job of parasitising the grass species that make up the bulk of most hay crops.

Over the next few years we expect to see more wildflower species taking the place of these grasses in the sward, with the eventual return of grasses and fluctuation of Hay Rattle across the meadow year on year. 

Today the cuttings have been raked into piles, ready for the baler to come and gather them into bales.

Meanwhile, some of the volunteers have been continuing path works, now moving away from the boundary path and leaving over 20 metres of pristine path behind them. Elsewhere others have been continuing to remove thistles from the Moorland.