Padney Field sits on the eastern border of the reserve. Traditional hedges have been planted around the field providing welcome habitat for many of our native hedgerow birds. The field is planted with alternating 25 meter wide strips of fine seeded crop. This provides winter food and cover for finches and other small passerines.
Other strips of pollen and nectar meadow with a high legume content such as Common vetch and Clover provide an early spring nectar source for invertebrates, particularly our struggling Bee populations which suffer from extensive use of pesticides and the loss of field edge and road verge vegetation There are two strips of Chicory down the middle of the field to provide shelter for feeding passerines from raptors when away from the hedgerows.
Other strips of pollen and nectar meadow with a high legume content such as Common vetch and Clover provide an early spring nectar source for invertebrates, particularly our struggling Bee populations which suffer from extensive use of pesticides and the loss of field edge and road verge vegetation There are two strips of Chicory down the middle of the field to provide shelter for feeding passerines from raptors when away from the hedgerows.
