September seed time – Goldfinches on Cowbar
The Cowbar grassland is now covered in many species of seed heads - a feast for birds, insects and the creatures that live here. The Goldfinches especially love the thistle…
Burnet Moths love Cowbar Knapweed!
One of our most eye-catching moths is back. In the summer, there are plenty of six-spotted Burnet Moths on Cowbar, settling on common knapweed or thistles, their regular choice…
July 4th 2026 – National Meadows Day!
This is a day for celebrating the treasure of meadows all over the UK! Cowbar grassland was once agricultural land decades ago. Now it is a species-rich stretch of ‘semi-improved’…
Bee Orchids are back on Cowbar!
This June a fascinating and beautiful orchid has reappeared.
Cowbar Autumn Goldfinches
A cloud of Goldfinches feasting on seeds on Cowbar this August A group of goldfinches is called a 'charm'. This term comes from the Old English word 'c'irm' and refers…
#NOMOWMAY and Why we need Dandelions
NO MOW MAY has begun! One of the most beautiful flowers to benefit from this Plantlife initiative, now adopted by people and organisations across the UK, is the Dandelion. Its name…
GROUND NESTING BIRDS
Many ground-nesting birds are on the ‘red list’ of birds that need urgent action to stop them from dying out. On Cowbar, these Red List birds include lapwings, curlews, and…
The Cowbar Barn Owl
All through December, we have seen the barn owl out hunting over the Cowbar grassland in daylight. Although barn owls' eyes are specially adapted to function in low light conditions…
Raking Day on Cowbar!
Thursday October 17th was a great day: over a mile of verge arisings raked along Cowbar Lane and 27 little gorse plants safely in the ground in just one day.…