The Hay Meadow

THE HAY MEADOW has been planted with Snakeshead Fritillaries.        

These delicate flowers usually appear at the end of March or early in April and it is hoped that the management of the meadow will encourage them to multiply.

PLEASE NOTE: Each year more arable meadow plants appear on the meadow. Please keep off this during the flowering season.

The objective is to create a flowering hay meadow. To achieve this it's fertility is slowly being reduced.  We cut the meadow in July when a hay crop is taken. By waiting until July we allow meadow flower seeds to mature, providing food for the birds and insects, and seeding for future plants. In 2002/03 a small area on the east side of the meadow was stripped and planted with meadow plants and seed. The plants include Meadow Cranesbill, Campion, Orange, Hawksweed and Lesser Knapweed.

Twenty one plant species were observed in the meadow by AnneMary Johnston in June 2011.

Red clover, White clover, Vetch with purple flowers, Horseshoe vetch (yellow), Cow parsley, Queen Anne’s lace, Buttercup, Dock, Sorrel, Knapweed – Hardheads, White campion, Convolvulus – bindweed, Yellow rattle, Cow-wheat, Ribwort plantain, Chickweed, Meadow cranesbill, Small pink cranesbill – Herb Robert?, Thistle, Common spotted orchid, Sedge.

 Common Spotted Orchid

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