Snake in the grass!

Brace yourselves, I am going to talk to you about all things rotten. Namely, compost heaps, leafmould and habitat piles!

Firstly - compost heaps. I was tutting to myself as I removed a pile of freshly-cut grass from the top of the completely-rotten bay of the compost heap, when I was suddenly silenced by the slither of a snake beneath the grass.... Imagine my delight as I identified the mesmerising yellow chevrons of the grass snake! As ever, the presence of a predator is good evidence of a healthy ecosystem, and in fact, Ken Thompson in his refereshingly irreverent book No Nettles Required, tells how his studies in gardens in Sheffield showed that any garden with a compost heap will automatically have a healthy wildlife population. This is because the rich pickings of the compost heap provide ample food for a whole raft of smaller creatures and microbes, which are then in turn food for layer upon layer of predators. The very top orders of this healthy food pyramid are likely to be familiar friends such as hedgehogs, frogs and toads, grass snakes, blackbirds, and many others.

Secondly, leafmould. I am pleased to report that a chicken-wire cage full of last year's autumn leaves has magically transformed into the most fabulous soil conditioner.... The volunteers and I yesterday barrowed the soft, dark, fragrant matter onto a newly-created bed beside our brand new barn, where it will nourish the soil, conserve moisture and feed the plants for several years to come. You should have see the size of some of the earthworms living in the leafmould!

And lastly, habitat piles. We cut our wildflower meadow in mid-August. We manage it like an old-fashioned hay meadow, cutting and removing the grass to reduce the overall nutrition of the soil and give the wildlifowers a chance to compete against the grass. once we'd let the cuttings dry and drop their seed, we raked them into a couple of large piles in a quiet corner, where they will form a fantastic winter home for wildlife, including grass snakes and possibly even hedgehogs. Just the place for frogs and toads to hide during daylight hours at the moment, as well. Want to know more about reptiles and amphibians in the garden? Have a look here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/reptiles_amphibians/index.aspx 

Oh, and one last thing: I am delighted to say that RSPB Flatford has been nominated for a Biffa Award - we are on a short list of 5 for the Recreation Category, and will find out at the awards ceremony on Thursday 27 September. Wish us luck!