meadow insects

Ground Beetle (Poecilus sp.)Add caption

Stomorhina lunata

Wild Life Around the House

 Although this is not strictly speaking part of the meadow it is the wildlife around the house.
 There are a pair of Jackdaws making a nest in the ventilation slot in the Old Granary wall  . 
The slot is is narrow you would never believe a Jackdaw could fit into it . but they squeeze into the largest part at the top and then drop down inside .They nested here last year and raised 4 chicks. Previous to that it was occupied by a pair of Pied Wagtails

 Just next door in the other slot we have House Sparrows nesting . the male is sitting on the gutter waiting for me to go before he slips into the nest. House Sparrows are supposed to be getting quite rare but we have dozens of the noisy little things 

Honesty

This beautiful patch of Honesty just shone out in the bright sunshine it gets larger every year

All the plants in the meadow are really growing away well .

As I walked up and down the meadow today as I do most days I couldn't help wondering what would it all look like this year. 
Every year is different . The first year it was mainly annuals that flowered. 
Now each year is different as the perennials grow and spread some plants such as the Field Scabious, Early Purple Orchids, Harebells and wild form of Cat Mint took 5 years before they flowered.

I will be removing will be Creeping Thistle and  Brambles .This afternoon I planted snowdrops that I was bought earlier in the year and some Allium bulbs that came as a free gift last year ..Also 3 Buddelia Bicolour for the  butterflies and 10 Apricot Foxgloves for the Bumble bees.I have sown Sweet


 Rocket . Leopards Bane and Pink and White Musk Mallow in plugs to add as soon as they are big enough.I'll be sowing a few annuals in the odd bare places where we had to move the hens to while we got on top of the rat problem higher up the garden .

Honesty,Bittercress ,

Honesty

Bittercress

Common Field Speedwell

I find these early flowers really exciting.  I walk the meadow every day and watch how all the small plants are progressing. Eagerly awaiting the opening of the flower buds.

First day of spring

At last its time to start getting the meadow ready for the summer.The mower is back from its service and the grass has had its first cut. 
I cut it twice in the spring to reduce the vigour of the grass to give the wild flowers a chance to get going without being chocked by the grass.
The Rosa Rugosa hedge is well into leaf and the buds are swelling on the Hawthorn. We are a little later here as we are on the top of a hill and its quite exposed to the wind .
The Hens are sharing a bit of the meadow for a while until we get on. top of the rat problem at the top of the field.
A few things are starting to flower apart from the ones I mentioned a few weeks ago .the Common Field Speedwell,Chickweed and Common Daisy . Also saw our first  Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) I went and checked it out on ISPOT as I don't know the different bumble bees .We have Blue Tits nesting in the nest boxes and we saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on the bird feeder in the week. the Sparrow Hawk is still making Regular Visits but too shy to get a photo.