Mowing, Mowing, Mowing!

It's that time of year, everything needs cutting before it's too wet to get on much of the project other than on foot.  The rough has recovered fantastically, it's hard to believe that less than a year ago it was all dense scrub.  Now the beetle grass mix is coming through strongly and should have a good footing by the end of the growing season, whilst the sedge beds at the bottom end of the area are growing more strongly than ever without being shaded out.  Both ponds are maturing quicker than expected and should be due for stocking with Rudd by October.

The Wild Bird Seed plots on Padney field have recovered well despite the dry start to the year, whilst not as dense as it was hoped they would be (the Kale never germinated properly to give the ground cover), there is a lot of seed in the Radish, Mustard and Linseed and will give a much needed food source to our declining farmland birds this winter.  Fingers crossed we can beat out record of 200 linnets from last year!

The pollen and nectar grass mix has gone over for this year though and needs cutting.  Unfortunately it still has a large proportion on thistle and has no value as fodder, however we are baling it and selling it to the Biomass power station this year and will weed-wipe the crop next year when the thistles first come through.

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