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’ land which has become a natural coastal meadow full of life. A typical meadow can be home to 570 flower heads per square metre on a single day in early summer.
This July, purple Tufted Vetch and yellow Birdsfoot Trefoil are creating a sea of colour on the grassland which is offering nectar for the bees, seeds for the Goldfinches and insects for the swooping Martins. The plants in a typical meadow can support nearly 1,400 species of invertebrates. Look out for the Burnet moths on the Ragwort and Knapweed in July.
The Yellow Rattle we sowed along the south verge of the lane is spreading and allowing more buttercups, clover and vetch to come through, plus a small patch of corncockles – new this year!
Plantlife’s Good Meadow Guide is full of information and advice about meadows. You can read it here.
Flower rich grasslands can store 500% more carbon than fields of pure grass. Since the 1930s, over 97% of wildlife meadows have been lost to development and intensive farming methods, but Plantlife, in collaboration with other nature groups and communities, is helping communities to restore ancient meadows and is working with farmers and land managers to promote nature friendly practices.
You can read more about National Meadows Day here.
