Cutting meadows

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Cutting meadows
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Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 15 7:16 am Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Most wildflowers are not very competitive and rely upon low fertility to compete with the grasses, which is why they do better in haymeadows with limited grazing. It depends on the overall fertility how much of a difference it'll make but in our ings it needs to be cut or it leaves a carpet that gets stuck in the mower the following year and reduces the quality of the subsequent hay crop.

The soil is very low in fertility so I'm not really worried about that. There also seems to almost be more wild flowers than grass, so again I wouldn't worry if the grasses got a bit of a boost.

The carpeting is what I'm more worried about, although I'm not sure what state the sward is currently in or how it's been treated in the past.

I don't have access to a flail mower or the means to use one. I may try mowing some with a lawn mower if time permits or scything and raking off if I can get a snath sorted.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 15 11:00 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Rob R wrote:

In that case you're probably OK to leave it for a year. However, if it is a rich source there may be people willing to take the crop for reseeding new wildflower meadows. On that note it might be worth getting in touch with conservation groups & Natural England in the area to see if there's any interest.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 15 11:13 am Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

On that note it might be worth getting in touch with conservation groups & Natural England in the area to see if there's any interest.

Sorry, but I've had several poor experiences with the local conservation group. NE may be better than other government departments I've recently dealt with but my experiences with them has taught me to avoid.

We will try and identify what's growing, as it is something we're interested in, though and see what we can do to look after anything rare.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 15 11:17 am Post subject:
Ignore any of the 'officials' aside from taking the contact details for the practical people. Things tend to be a lot easier when you take the unofficial route.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 15 5:09 pm Post subject:
Thank you for your answers by the way. I knew them already. I realise that at some point Treac wants to cut hay which might have influenced them but really I was hoping that there might be some thought in different directions.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Thu Jun 11, 15 9:22 pm Post subject:
Try contacting SABI (Scythe Assoc of Britain and ireland), see whether there are mowers in your area. If you can get it cut and carted off, I would recommend. It probably will make it much harder to cut next year. (voice of bitter experience here; and I've also seen it in other 'wildflower meadows')

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 15 7:30 am Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

Thank you for your answers by the way. I knew them already. I realise that at some point Treac wants to cut hay which might have influenced them but really I was hoping that there might be some thought in different directions.

It does sound like it would make a lovely building plot, or is that not what you meant?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Jun 12, 15 10:10 am Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

Cathryn wrote:

It does sound like it would make a lovely building plot, or is that not what you meant?

No need, house is already there. As for Cathryn's question, long term it would go back to woodland. Bracken is encroaching from the woodland boundary and that can be kept in check by mowing a wide path. Brambles may also spread but roe deer will keep them in check. There's a few rabbits about but not enough to make much difference to the grass and no red deer that I know of. (Red deer seem to get ignored round these parts as grazing animals by those that want funding to look after grassland). I expect they're be a few tree seedlings appearing, probably down to the jays planting nuts and seeds, but I can pull those out/transplant them easily enough.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 15 2:00 pm Post subject:

I have given my hay crop away for the last 10 years to a horse lady who wanted non fertilised grass to feed her little darlings and it has worked well for me. It is the only thing that happens to my grass, its annual cut! There are plenty of folks for whom an acre of grassland is all they need to feed their stock and prefer to know where it comes from. Before, when I had an acre paddock on which I fattened 6 lambs in winter, a local small dairy farmer was glad of that ground to make hay and give me 6 bales for my sheep's winter fodder. You just have to put it about locally and someone will turn up for your hay crop!

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 15 9:42 am Post subject:
For hay cutting, two things folks will want to know 1. Any rocks sticking up or stones lying on the surface 2. Any lumps and bumps/lots of molehills. Both of the above blunt, or even break, the blades on a mower.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 15 9:02 pm Post subject:
Molehills yes, in a field in one corner. Stones, who knows as there's a covering of tall grass and wild flowers at the moment. What about giant puffballs, there's quite a few of them?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46245
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 15 2:21 pm Post subject:
stones are an issue even if scything

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 15 2:27 pm Post subject:
Puffballs, less so.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 15 9:19 pm Post subject:
Accidental pheasant Tsujigiri is a distinct possibility while scything, they seem to love the long grass at the moment.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46245
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 15 4:02 pm Post subject:
that is a mixed blessing,bad for birdie ,ideal for dinner

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