The crop circles of Thunder Bridge!

No we've not taken to extra-terrestrial species surveying (although it would make a change from the usual chiropteran subjects!). We've been busy making more hay, this time at Thunder Bridge Meadows, a Garganey Trust reserve near Kirkburton, Huddersfield.

The site is essentially a series of fields (some very small and one very large) along a 1km section of valley floor. A small stream (Thunder Bridge Dike) runs northward marking the eastern boundary of the site which for the most part is surrounded by woodland.

Garganey Trust are aiming to bring the site back into regular management for the benefit of wildlife, in particular restoring the wildflower meadows on site. Some of the meadows (or parts of them) do contain a diverse range of wildflower species, but the absence of any cutting or grazing over several years has led to many parts becoming dominated by coarse grasses or colonised by bramble, shrubs and trees.

So far we have undertaken several days of grass cutting in the two most northerly fields. To make the best use of our time on site we spread our efforts across these fields by cutting a series of patches. Several passers by pointed out to us that they do look a bit like crop circles! 

Can you spot the mysterious being making these strange features?..........

In each "crop circle" the arisings were raked off to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the soil (which would otherwise favour a small number of vigorous plant species). Over the coming years the aim would be to repeat the cutting of these areas and make them larger, joining them up, until the whole meadow can be cut on an annual basis. This should result in an increase in wildflower abundance and diversity, which in turn should benefit invertebrates and other wildlife.

The late spring we had this year is still having knock on effects, one of which we have used to our advantage! Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) has colonised parts of the site, having spread from Thunder Bridge Dike. Usually at this time of year the flowers have turned to seed pods which explode on contact springing their seed up to 5 metres in all directions, enabling the plant to rapidly colonise large areas, particularly on damp ground. This year the seed pods are only just starting to develop in mid August, so we took the opportunity to cut several areas of the site where the plant has taken hold, preventing it from setting seed. Himalayan balsam seed is viable for up to 18 months and so if the cutting of these areas is repeated next year, in theory, they should become free of this invasive 'alien' species.

We'll be back at Thunder Bridge Meadows in the winter to cut and stump treat some of the trees which have self seeded (or suckered in some cases) in the meadows. Maybe we'll see you there one frosty morning!

Saturday night is bat night!

We'll be guiding a "bat walk" at Elsecar Park near Barnsley on the evening of Saturday 10th August 2013. All are welcome!

Click HERE for details.

Making hay while the sun shines?

To most people this is just a ye olde expression but this past week we've literally been making hay, although unfortunately not always in the sunshine!

Denby Delf (or Mosley Roughs as it's sometimes referred to locally) is a Site of Scientific Interest designated for its botanical and butterfly interest. Located near the village of Upper Denby, it's well used by local dog walkers and ramblers following several public footpaths around and through the site.

On behalf of the Garganey Trust, we have been undertaking grass cutting on the lower meadow area, which hasn't been in active management for many years. Our task is to cut and remove the course grasses and scrub which left unchecked would dominate and outcompete wildflower species, and eventually succeed to woodland.

We've  spent the last 5 days cutting areas of the meadow with our brushcutter followed by copious amounts of raking and barrowing.

Our trusty "Rudd's Rake" - don't make hay without one!

Our new traditional hay rake, made by the last commercial hay rake makers John and Graeme Rudd of Cumbria, is worthy of an entire blog post on its own! Suffice to say it lived up to all expectations, performing brilliantly at the task it was designed to do!

Raked into rows and left to dry

Leaving some of the meadow uncut breaks up the task of bringing the whole meadow back into regular management, allows any wildflower species the opportunity to set seed as well as giving other species the chance to adjust to the new management regime.

The intention is to return to Denby Delf in the winter to remove most of the scattered scrub in this field leaving a more open meadow area, sheltered in places by adjacent scrub and woodland. Lots of nice niches for the various plant and insect species to hopefully exploit!

If you've got land that you're looking to manage for wildlife then we may be able to help, please do get in touch.