Friday, 22 September 2017

Standlake Common Meadow – May to August

Early May

There is approximately 6 hectares of grassland at Standlake Common Nature Reserve, the majority of which is along the Southern shore of the lake.

Early June
The meadow supports a diverse range of invertebrates and birds throughout Spring and Summer.

Late June
The site is at it’s most colourful with an array of wild flowers.

Late July
The area is managed as a hay meadow with a hay cut taken in late July/August and grazing by sheep in Autumn. The hay is baled and taken off site after cutting to remove nutrients. If left on site, less desirable grass species and weeds would begin to dominate.

Late August (After Hay Cut)

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2 comments:

  1. Adam Hartley (Gnome)23 September 2017 at 01:21

    Thanks very much for the interesting post. Could you perhaps tells us a bit more about specifically what wild flowers you are getting in your meadow?

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    1. Lower Windrush Valley Project25 September 2017 at 05:00

      Hi Adam,

      Thank you for your message. We have Common Knapweed, Meadow Buttercup, Oxeye Daisy, Yellow Rattle and Bird’s-Foot Trefoil and a few Cowslips.

      The site was spread with green hay from the next door SSSI in 2013 so we hope to see more and more species as the meadow develops and with continued management of a late July/early August hay cut and aftermath grazing with sheep.

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