Our management of the top meadow at Filnore Woods, including scything the grass and removing it, is helping the spread of several wild flowers.
At our recent scything session we noted wild carrot, musk mallow, teasel, centaury, meadow vetchling, birdsfoot trefoil, lesser knapweed, agrimony and goatsbeard (jack go-to-bed-at-noon) as well as a lot of creeping thistle and greater willow herb, which are attractive but rather dominant and invasive.
In addition there were several yellow rattle plants which will help reduce the vigour of the larger grasses and allow the smaller flowering plants to thrive. Some in flower, some with unripe seedpods.
And even on a dull day there were many butterflies, particularly Meadow Browns and their smaller cousins Gatekeepers.
Gatekeeper Photo: Alan Watts Meadow Brown Photo: UK Butterflies
And I saw one last Marbled White perched on a thistle flower.
Their flight season is very short.
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