Mowing Ladies Mile Wildflower Meadow
On Friday, 28th August, we returned to the Ladies Mile Wildflower Meadow for its annual late-summer mow, once again led by Tom from Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Tom was on site ahead of us and had already cut the length from Northwich Road to Warren Close, about 150 metres, so there was plenty waiting to be raked when volunteers gathered at 10 o’clock.
Mowing the Meadow
Ten wonderful volunteers turned out. The number was lower than usual, which we had expected at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend, but it proved plenty for the task. We raked up the arisings and scattered them across the road under the trees.
The morning started bright and sunny, and we were confident we would complete the job. However, an unexpected thunder shower arrived around noon, just as Tom was starting to mow the second section from Warren Close to Tabley Road. It drenched the volunteers and made the meadow too wet to continue, so we abandoned the task and agreed to return in September to complete it. We finished by scattering wildflower seeds on the patches of bare earth the mowing had created, then spent the rest of our time, until 2:30 p.m., clearing the path edges in the woodland.
Wildlife Among the Cuttings
While we cleared away the grass cuttings, we uncovered the variety of life they had been sheltering. We found fat slugs and toads as well as several moths, all making their way off to find new homes.
Why We Mow the Meadow
Late summer mowing is an essential part of meadow management. The plants – grasses and wildflowers – are left to drop their seeds before mowing. After mowing, the cut material, known as arisings, is carried away so it does not rot down and fertilise the soil. Wildflowers thrive where the soil nutrition level is low.
Thank You — and Come and Join Us!
Our thanks go to Tom and Cheshire Wildlife Trust for leading the group, and to everyone who came along to help. Please come and join us for our next session on Friday, 25th September, when we will continue mowing the Ladies Mile wildflower meadow.
Click the link below to book your place.
