Activity: Management of Wild Flower Meadow
Weather: Overcast, warm (well it was after 2 hours of working!)
This week’s project was the management of an area of wildflower meadow on the Auchincruive Estate.
The conservation society was tasked with clearing grass and dead flowers from half of the meadow. (The other half was left to provide habitat for the meadow's field vole population)
Clearing the grass allows the wild flowers a better chance to grow next spring and the grasses also return at the same time. The cut grass was removed to prevent additional nutrients from getting into the soil on the meadow. (Wild flowers tend to grow in soil that has lower nutrient levels) It was placed in a wooded area next to the meadow and will be allowed to rot and provide nutrients for the trees.
During the project, and thanks to Tom's excellent hearing, a vole nest (complete with baby voles) was discovered and the grass around it left intact to provide them with some cover)
Hopefully next spring we will be able to enjoy the flowers that will grow on the meadow.
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