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Archive for the ‘Meadows’ Category

Invasive species in Ladybrook Valley

Posted in Invasive species, Meadows, Ponds and lakes, tagged on April 22, 2025|

It was great to welcome two new volunteers to our task on Sunday 13 April in Happy Valley, Bramhall, where we were working with the Friends of Ladybrook Valley (FoLV) to help them control non-native invasive species in two different areas.

Last year, FoLV removed American skunk cabbage in a flooded wooded area and our first task was to identify and dig out any new growth and to rebury some of last year’s plants that were resprouting. We also removed a large volume of New Zealand pigmyweed from one of the ponds to prevent it choking up, then burying the arisings to prevent regrowth.

We got to hear from FoLV what makes the area special and to learn about invasive species more generally, and it was also nice that so many people walking past showed interest and appreciation in what we were all doing and why.

Lastly, it was satisfying to see that the yellow-rattle seeds that we sowed last autumn are growing, which will help FoLV return the grassland to wildflower meadow!

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Meadow-raking in Ladybrook Valley

Posted in Meadows, tagged on September 17, 2024|

On Sunday 8 September we visited a new site for us: Happy Valley in Bramhall, part of Ladybrook Valley. We joined the Friends of Ladybrook Valley in their ongoing work to improve and restore a meadow. Our main activity was to rake off the grass, which had been cut a week or two previously; this will help to reduce nutrient levels in the ground, providing a better habitat for a range of wildflowers. In some areas we cleared patches of ground and sowed yellow-rattle seed. As a semi-parasite on grasses, yellow-rattle allows gives other traditional meadow species a chance to establish themselves.

Despite a poor weather forecast, the day remained dry for us. Thanks to the Friends for a warm welcome (and biscuits!).

Update, June 2025: The FoLV have confirmed that there is now yellow-rattle in the meadow!

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Cow field at Chorlton Meadows

Posted in Grassland, Meadows, tagged , on December 8, 2019|

For our last activity of 2019, we joined the Friends of Chorlton Meadows, this time to work in an area of grassland which (it is hoped) will return to being used for the grazing of cattle for part of each year from 2020.  Careful management and grazing at the right time of the year will help to maintain this important habitat. We continued work already started by the Friends to remove areas of bramble encroaching onto the grassland – and had fine weather until the very end of the day.

Volunteers getting started
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteers at work
Volunteer at work
The edge of the field

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Wildlife garden and grassland

Posted in Coppicing, Grassland, Meadows, Ponds and lakes, tagged , on December 16, 2018|

Well, our activities for 2018 are now over. Our last two outings have been with the Friends of Longford Park on 25th November and with the Friends of Chorlton Meadows on 9th December.

In Longford Park, we helped the Friends with a number of activities for the maintenance of the wildlife garden including seeding wood anemone, foxglove and yellow rattle; coppicing hazel; removing blackthorn which was invading the grassland area; and managing areas of dogwood, rose and flag iris near the pond.

Volunteers at work
Work in progress
Removing blackthorn root from grass
Tools
Coppiced hazel

At Chorlton Meadows, the Friends are currently in the process of trying to restore the only remaining area of old grassland. The aim is to re-introduce cattle grazing once the new fence has been completed. Sadly, many years of neglect has resulted in several species invading the field, not least bramble. The cattle will keep the invasive plant species down and allow the rarer plant species to thrive once again. SACV members spent the day working with the Friends in removing the bramble.

Volunteers at work
Volunteer with brambles
Volunteer at work
Volunteer at work
Volunteers at work

Hard work, but well worth it and our efforts were rewarded with an early Christmas soirée after the task, kindly hosted (as in previous years) by Elaine. Thanks to Elaine for the perfect end to the day!

And of course big thanks to everyone who has come out to volunteer with us in 2018!

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Meadows at Tegg’s Nose

Posted in Grassland, Meadows, tagged , on July 2, 2017|

After a cool-ish and cloudy start, today we were again blessed with a beautiful day at Tegg’s Nose Country Park.  As in previous summers, we were helping the Cheshire East Rangers with the obligatory management of ragwort and thistles in meadows which are important for a range of species including orchids, mountain pansies, waxcap fungi, moonwort and adder’s-tongue fern.  The meadows’ management is also supported by controlled grazing by a herd of longhorn cattle (who show extraordinary interest in Ranger Martin’s van!).  All this, and a good sighting of a pair of local buzzards circling overhead!

Common spotted orchid
Volunteers at work
Longhorn cattle inspect the vehicle
Longhorn cattle inspect the vehicle
Longhorn cattle grazing
Mountain pansy
Volunteers at work

 

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Summer meadow at Tegg’s Nose

Posted in Meadows, tagged , on July 5, 2015|

Today some of us were out pulling ragwort, topping thistles and cutting bracken in glorious weather in the meadows at Tegg’s Nose.  There were lots of lovely wildflowers to spot including orchids and field pansies. Well-deserved ice-creams for all afterwards!

Volunteers at work
Wildflowers
Volunteer at work
Work in progress

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A meadow at Tegg’s Nose

Posted in Meadows, tagged , on July 16, 2013|

This past Sunday SACV members were out at the glorious Tegg’s Nose Country Park, where the work was to help keep a meadow clear of bracken, ragwort and thistles in order to maintain a regionally important population of waxcap fungi and the beautiful mountain pansies.  It was a very hot day, so well done to those who were out!  Here are some pictures, courtesy of Martin the ranger.

SACV at Tegg’s Nose Country Park
SACV at Tegg’s Nose Country Park

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