9 August 2023
Green Hay
As many of our fields were arable fields until 2021, when the last harvest was taken, there is a period of transition where a natural succession of plants occurs. This is a slow, natural process where the seed bank in the soil needs to replenish for grasses and wildflowers to tak...
GREEN HAY SPREADING AT WILDER DODDINGTON
Introducing exciting new native wildflower species to Wilder Doddington to benefit wildlife.
As many of our fields were arable fields until 2021, when the last harvest was taken, there is a period of transition where a natural succession of plants occurs. This is a slow, natural process where the seed bank in the soil needs to replenish for grasses and wildflowers to take hold.
Wilding is a natural process which means we should stand back and give nature a chance to get going. However, we also know that we are in a biodiversity crisis with insect, bird, and small mammal numbers declining, so where we can help natural processes progress in a positive way we sometimes do.
We were lucky enough to receive the kind donation of fresh green hay from a local wildflower meadow, full of seeds by South Scarle Nature Project. With the help of volunteers from both South Scarle Nature Project and Wilder Doddington we cut, raked and baled the green hay and brought it to the fields of Wilder Doddington, where the Wilder staff and volunteers immediately unrolled and spread the hay across 3 of our fields that need the most help.
Some of the seed will drop to the ground where it is spread, and some eaten by the cattle, pigs, wild animals, and birds and spread across the farm in dung. Over the coming years, we are hoping to see Yellow Rattle, orchids, Knapweed, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Musk Mallow and Lady's Bedstraw amongst others emerge from this wonderful donated green hay.
We are incredibly grateful to the South Scarle Nature Project and all their volunteers, Des and his machinery, Hari and all of our Wilder volunteers.
Follow our journey to get Wilder at Doddington:
Yellow Rattle seeds are in the mix!
Newly-emerged dragonfly amongst the Knapweed
