Volunteers at work in the Ladies Mile wildflower meadow
On Friday, 3rd July, a small but dedicated band of seven volunteers gathered on The Heath for our monthly Habitat Management session, once again led by Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Our numbers were down on recent months — the session had originally been planned for the week before, but the extreme heat forced us to postpone, and with the rearranged date coming at short notice, many of our volunteers were unable to make it. Those of us who did turn out were rewarded with a fine, warm day and plenty to get on with.
The Ladies Mile Wildflower Meadow
Our main focus for the day was the Ladies Mile wildflower meadow. Established in the roadside verge back in September 2022, this once-ordinary strip of grass has blossomed into a wonderfully varied meadow, now home to a fine display of native wildflowers. Among the beauties flowering were Ox-eye Daisy, Ragged Robin, Viper’s-bugloss, and Yellow Rattle — a real treat for passers-by and pollinators alike.
Keeping the Meadow in Balance
A meadow like this needs a helping hand to flourish. Left to their own devices, vigorous plants such as nettles, docks and thistles would quickly muscle out the more delicate wildflowers and come to dominate the sward. So our main task was to work through the meadow by hand, clearing these thugs to give the wildflowers room to breathe. It is satisfying work, and there is a real pleasure in knowing that a summer’s afternoon of weeding today means a richer show of colour in the seasons to come. The meadow will be given its annual cut in August, as part of the scheduled management plan.
A Couple of Extra Jobs
With the meadow well in hand, we turned our attention to a couple of other tasks. First, we pruned back a hawthorn that had been overhanging the footpath. It had grown so low that walkers were having to duck beneath it, so a careful trim restored comfortable headroom along the path.
Pruning back the overhanging hawthorn
Over on the opposite side, at the woodland edge, we tackled a patch of Yellow Loosestrife. Although a pretty enough plant, this is a non-native garden escapee that has no place on a nature reserve, where it can spread at the expense of our native flora. The team set to and cleared the patch, leaving the woodland edge clear for native plants to reclaim.
The team removing the Yellow Loosestrife
Good Company and Fine Wildlife
Working in the meadow on such a warm day, we were treated to plenty of wildlife going about its business. Meadow Brown and Small White butterflies flitted among the flowers, along with numerous moths we couldn’t quite put a name to, and in the quieter moments, we could hear grasshoppers chirping away within the sward — a lovely reminder of just how much life a well-managed meadow supports.
If there was a silver lining to our smaller turnout, it was the easy, friendly atmosphere of the day. A small group makes for good repartee and a real sense of teamwork, and we made light work of our tasks, wrapping up with an early finish at 2:30 p.m.
Thank You — and Come and Join Us!
Our sincere thanks go to Cheshire Wildlife Trust for leading the work once again, and to every volunteer who gave up their Friday to help look after the site. Whether you’re a regular or have never come along before, you’d be very welcome to join us — no experience needed, just bring yourself and some clothes you don’t mind getting grubby. We’ll supply the tools and the guidance.
Our next Habitat Management Day is on Friday, 31st July. Sign up using the link below.
