Tomorrow, Saturday 2nd July, is National Meadows Day, organised by Plantlife. Meadows are such an important part of our countryside, which need our help now more than ever! Meadows are a very special habitat, vital for a great variety of insects and small rodents along with birds such as flycatchers, larks, thrushes, finches and birds of prey. But did you know that meadows are also great for carbon storage, with research suggesting that a meadow filled with flowers can store up to 30% more carbon than a flower-less meadow? Add to that the proven mental health benefits that time spent in a flower filled meadow can bring us, and its no wonder that Plantlife are encouraging us to celebrate and preserve our meadows this weekend!
At Flatford Wildlife Garden, a large patch of grass next to the willow tunnel is left to grow through the spring and summer. This contains flowers such as red campion and oxeye daisy, and is currently abuzz with insect life and activity.
Wildfowers growing in the mini meadow at Flatford Wildlife Garden
Photo: Volunteer's own
You too can create a mini meadow in your garden, bringing a wealth of new species into your space. This can be as simple as leaving an area of lawn to grow, or you can go for a fully flowered patch by sowing wildflower mixes into your soil. Although it may take a while to get fully established, the benefits of developing a meadow area in your garden are multiple. It's not too late for this year as September can be as good a time as spring to sow wildflower seeds for your mini meadow. The RHS gives some useful steps here.
Back at Flatford Wilflife Garden, we have been excited to watch new visitors to the cob structure next to the pond – namely potter wasps. Many of these wasps, notable for their particularly thin abdomen, have chosen it as their nesting spot, creating some very intriguing structures in the process! The female potter wasp first digs a burrow, then uses the excavated material to construct a little chimney about 3cm high. This chimney is cleverly curled over at the top to prevent rain from entering. She then forms a nest cell at the bottom of her burrow and lays an egg, attaching it to the cell wall by a fine thread. See if you can spot any of these chimneys next time you're at the garden!
Chimneys created by the potter wasps at Flatford Wildlife Garden