Wildflower Meadow

Spring offers the best time to see Cowslip Primula veris and Primrose Primula vulgaris in their prime, these early flowering species provide the nectar required by early emerging butterflies and queen bumblebees.

In summer: a greater variety of butterflies can be seen as well as other insects such as solitary bees, hoverflies and some interesting parasitic wasps! Our meadow has a abundance of colourful flowers to look out for, including Knapweed Centaurea nigra (dark purple), poppies Papaver sp. (red), Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica (yellow) and Meadow Crane’s-Bill Geranium pratense (light purple).

As part of our management for the meadow, we cut the grass once a year either in late winter or late summer on an alternating rotation. This allows for certain species of birds to feed on the seeds during the winter, whilst allowing species of insects to develop and emerge as the weather warms. By removing the cuttings after a few days, we allow the seeds to fall onto the meadow and at the same time reducing the nutrient content of the soil.