GRASS CUTTING STYLES

In some areas at Filnore Woods we have the grass cut short by South Glos Council mowers: at the viewpoint, by the memorial lime trees and at the main entrance.  

Short mown grass at the viewpoint

In other places we are losing the battle to retain areas as wildflower-rich grassland.  Thistles and Willowherb and Hogweed are taking over so we ask SGC to come in and cut it all down.  We lose some of the flowers in the short term but by removing these vigorous thugs of plants before they seed we hope to favour the less robust variety of plants.

Hogweed taking over

Remote controlled grass cutter, bramble basher and general vegetation mulcher

Ideally we would do a hay cut in June/July using scythes so that it is easier to rake up and remove the cut grass.  

This reduces the fertility and gives the smaller plants a chance to compete.  Currently we only have enough volunteer hours to scythe the top meadow between posts 3,4 & 5 above the New Plantation.

A swathe of cut grass to be raked up and stacked

Scythe, rake and pitchfork