I have just finished cutting down both Front and Back meadows for this year. There were still a few colourful Knapweeds and Wild carrots etc, but they are diminishing returns now so it’s time to bring down the curtain. I have cut 2 weeks earlier than usual this year because there was still some greenery. Hopefully, this way, more fertility can be removed from the system than by waiting longer.
I use a combination of shears, strimmer, and lawn mower. The photo shows the Back meadow after cutting down, with its ramshackle protective hedge of lavender separating it from ordinary lawn (whence it was created). It is tear-drop shaped and approximately 6m long by 4m wide at maximum. The photo was taken from the top of a ladder with some very bemused cats looking on. A big message I like to emphasise is don’t think you can’t have a great meadow in a very small area – you absolutely can!
I usually like to delay cutting so the orchid seed pods go brown and dehisce naturally, but they are only just doing so. One can normally reckon on 5 to 6 weeks after peak flowering for this to happen, faster when hot and sunny and vice versa. This time I have tried to cut around many of the spikes and leave them standing to ripen and shed seed. Some others I have cut off and stored in envelopes to dry. The seeds will be scattered back on the meadows later, during general re-seeding.
This year we scattered cornfield annual seed in a raised bed near the vegetable patch to attract pollinators. It has done quite well, considering seed was sown a bit late (early May?). Not many poppies, though.
Photos: 1. Meadow cutting, 2. the Back meadow after cutting, 3.Dactylorhiza orchid seed head, 4. Cornfield annuals
Anthony.heys@sky.com
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