September/October 2023 Update - Bluebell Walk

Wildflower Meadow management

Our meadow is farmed under the Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme, so from January to when it is cut for hay, it cannot be grazed.  This year haying was delayed, as from the end of July during the whole of August we had no prolonged spells of hot weather, so the field was not mown until September, quite late for hay!  If you remember we then had the heatwave, so the cut grass quickly dried, turned into hay and was baled, giving my tenant the best hay he has made for years, also the cheapest, as it only needed turning once!  Ideally, we would have liked the contractor with a giant lawnmower to come immediately after haying, to remove any grass that the weather had beaten down and any loose hay the baler had missed, but he was too booked up.  To remove as much old grass as possible helps the wildflower seeds to quickly germinate next spring, but as you can see from the image, besides removing the old grass there was some lovely fresh growth that grazing sheep would have relished. 

The contractor has assured me that next year, if I can inform them of the date before haying starts, they will try to come earlier, but trying to anticipate a haying date with our unpredictable weather is as difficult as trying to anticipate the best weeks for the Bluebell Walk!

Bates Green Gallop   

Last month we saw 169 runners take part in the yearly Bates Green Gallop, organised by local running club, "We Run – You Run – I Run”.  They have created a circuit of 3.6 miles through the Bluebell Wood and round our dairy farmer neighbour’s land, hence the cows head on the medal.  The event is very well organized, with a variety of refreshments and first aid facilities on standby, which fortunately were not needed.  As runners complete each circuit, they are given a wrist band, and can continue for as many laps as their stamina and legs can manage within 6 hours.  One runner completed 12 circuits, a total of 42 miles!  When they have had enough, they ring a bell, are given their medal and clapped as their photograph is taken for them to proudly display.

John McCutchan

This message was added on Wednesday 11th October 2023