Wild Flower Strips in your Recreation Ground at Queens Road, Ash.
This year you may have noticed some longer grassed areas in the Recreation Ground that have information boards on them. These areas were left unmown to improve biodiversity in the Recreation Ground and to reduce the level of stress on our trees. The roots of these plants will help to break up the compaction around many of the trees, allowing water and air to get to their roots. We ask you not to walk on the areas during the growing season from April to September.
These areas are managed to allow the flowering plants within the grass sward to flower to provide nectar and seeds for a variety of insects and animals, with a tight cut late in the summer after flowering. Waiting to see what plants grow that are local to our area is fascinating. So for 2022, we will not be planting wildflowers as they could disturb the natural balance of plants and insects local to Ash. If later it is decided to plant, then the seeds used will be sourced locally, as it is important to maintain local genetic attributes.
Some of the more aggressive plants will have to be managed and this will be done by hand or spot mowing with the brushcutter. All the different species can flourish without one type crowding out others. This was done in July 2021.
Over the 2021 growing season, 50 species of native or naturalised flowering plants were positively identified. Floristically, the highlight of the year was the discovery of a single cornflower plant which is a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. The area where it was found will be managed to encourage germination of any seed. If this is successful, next year we may be able to spread seed to other areas of the wildflower strips.
Several species of birds were observed foraging in the long grass including sparrows and goldfinches. This enterprise has been welcomed by many residents and several have been actively looking for the next plant to flower on their visits to the Recreation Ground.
The four strips are quite different. The photos below were taken on 24 June 2021. The first picture is of the swathe between the Allotments and the playing field. There are fewer flowers but again some are not found elsewhere and they show up more. The Queens Road strip is starting to show very diverse grass species. The swathe alongside the pavilion road is most floristically diverse. At the far end of the Ground the path through the swath is feeling like a woodland path with the taller cow parsley.
Next year, our school children will be able to help with the recording and photographs of what is hoped will become a wonderful new resource for the parish. To see all the plants go to Find a wildflower by clicking here.
