Winter Grazing The Wildflower Meadow

Winter Grazing The Wildflower Meadow

 

My lawnmowers are back, the neighbouring farmer’s sheep are grazing the wildflower meadow for the Winter. It is a welcome sight as it is an essential part of wildflower meadow management

The idea is that at least once a year, between September and mid March, the meadow area is hard grazed, to keep the grass sward down and allow essential light for the wildflower seed germination. However it is requires careful monitoring as heavy poaching or trampling can cause damage and encourage too many weeds!

Hopefully if we get the balance right we will have a good display of wildflowers in the Summer. As I have to take and record quadrat surveys, it will be interesting to see if we get a greater diversity of species this year

Candida Hopkinson