Field Studies
LoisWakeman
Poppy and barley, Uplyme
Field Studies
LoisWakeman LRPS
A love letter to the farmed landscape of England
Field
©LoisWakeman2024
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbook maybereproducedordistributedinany formwithoutpriorwrittenpermission fromtheauthor,exceptforthoseuses permittedbycopyrightlaw.
lois@lois.co.uk
https://lois.co.uk
Hedgerow oaks, Pilsdon
Foreword
‘Field Studies’ismytributetothebeautyandinterestofarableandpasture�ieldsinEngland.Most takenonmydoorsteporashortdrivefromhomeinthesouthwestofEngland,myphotosencompass boththelargeragriculturallandscapeandthesmalldetailofcropsandarableweeds.
I�irstnoticedthefarmedlandscapeasasmallchildgrowingupinEssexinthe1950s.Welivedona newhousingestatebackingontofarmland,andIrememberlookingthroughthechain-linkfencingat thebottomofthegardenatwhatseemedlikeverytallcorn,andalsothealmond-scentedpink bindweedandorange-redpimpernelgrowinginthedryearthatitsfeet.Thefarmer’s�ieldisnowpart ofaschoolplaying�ield,thoughIrememberbeingtakentoadedicationceremonyfortheschool(a buildingsiteatthetime)andnoticingabrightgreenpotatostrugglingtogrowinthedustyground.As a�iveyearold,thatwasalotmoreinterestingthangrown-upsdroningonaboutsomethingorother!
Anotherintroductiontofarmswasstayingatmygrandparents’inHastings.Bompa,mygranddad,was akeengardenerandhadawonderfulslopinggardenforchildrentoplayin.Itendedinastream fringedbybamboo,alongwhichIandmysisterdaringlyventuredtoemergeinarhubarb�ield,which seemedlikeatropicalforesttomyinfanteyes.Bythetimeheleft,thehousewasmaroonedonthe edgeofabignewhousingestate,andallthe�ieldsweregone.
MumandDadkeptupmyinterestbyvariousfarmholidays(alotmoreprimitivethanwouldbe acceptabletoday).Mybestearlymemorywasofbeingallowedtowatchhandmilkinginthewarm fuggybarn,andbeinggivenlocustbeanstochewonfromthecows’fodder,andtheworstwasfalling offaponyintoaditchontheSomersetlevels.
Lateron,weholidayedinabasicwoodenchaletonaDorsetorganicfarmandspenttimegetting prickledalloverbybarleystrawmakingdensinthebarn,orhurtlingdownthetrackonapramcart intothegarlandsofgoosegrassprofferedbysiblings.
Happydays,whichhavecolouredmyloveofthecountrysideeversince.I’venowlivedinruralEast Devonforoverhalfmylife,sothisismyofferingtothe genius loci.
LoisWakeman,September2024
Lesser bindweed
Scarlet pimpernel
The arable year
So,wheretostart?Thefarmingyearisa circularprogressionthroughthe seasons,soanystartingpointisboundto bearbitrary.I’vechosentheaftermathas mine.Literallythenewgrassgrowing aftermowingorharvest,itsignalsthe endofonegrowingseasonandthestart ofthenext.
Webeginwithsomerealaftermathhere: acutcereal�ieldwithsomenascent grass,picturedonalatesummer morning.Anincreasinglyraresight nowadays,asthewholecycleof combining,baling,ploughing,harrowing anddrillingcanbedoneinjustafew days,ratherthanatamoreleisurelypace affordingustimetolook.
Aftermath, Pinhay
Nextcomestheplough–you’llseethat thelinesrundiagonallytolastyear’s croppinglines–thisavoids,tosome degree,compactionfromtractorwheels.
(Ourlocalfarmersdon’tusethe no-tillsystem,wherenextyear’scropis drilledstraightintothestubblewithout ploughing.Thisreducessoildamagebut hasatrade-offinmoreweedseed germinationinthetilth.)
Plough, Uplyme
Ploughing in progress, Uplyme
That’sfollowedbytheharrow,which reducestheclodsofploughedearthtoa �inertilth,readyfortheseeddrill. Especiallypleasinginlowlightwhich throwsthefurrows,madebyadisc harrow,intorelief.
Theseedbedmaybefurthercultivated byachainharrowto�lattenthesurface, andthenit’sreadyfortheseeddrill.
After the harrow, Uplyme
Afewdaysorweekslater,thenewcrop (commonlybarley,wheat,oatsorrapein mypartoftheworld)emergesinneat lines.Thesearewintercrops,which growslowlythroughthewinterreadyto takeoffoncethesoilwarmsupinspring. (Springvarietiesaresownthefollowing year,andthelandmaybeleftfallowuntil justbeforesowing,perhapsdepending ontheweather.)
Germinating winter wheat, Uplyme
Germinating corn, Pilsdon Pen
Spring barley shoots, Uplyme
Maize(afoddercropforcattle)isalways sownasalatespringcrop,soallthese processes(preparingtheseedbed, drilling,germination)takeplacelaterin theyear.
It’sdrilledatwiderspacings,andthe newly-emergingcropmakesa�ine subjectforaphoto.
“ ”
Thisphoto,takenyearsagoonabridgecamerawithalongzoomlens,stillmakesthehairsstandupon thebackofmyneckwhenIcomeacrossitunexpectedly.
I’dscoutedthis�ieldnearmyhomeatPinhayindaylight,andwentbackasthesunwassetting.The alignmentoftherowsofsproutingmaizeontheslopeinfrontofme,andtheshadowedhillbeyond,all cametogetherononelatespringevening.
Oats catching the morning light, Uplyme
Barley ears starting to turn, Pinhay
Cocksfoot, Uplyme
Thenwehaveaperiodofwaitingfor harvest,asthecropgrows,�lowersand seeds. Ofcourse,thefarmerdoesn't havethisluxury,havingtocheckfor pests,diseaseandgrowthrates;taking remedialactionwherenecessary.
Allgrassesstartoffasbrightgreen seedlings,butastheymature,each�ield takesonacharacteristichue.
Wheatisaglaucousblue-green, and barleyislimegreen.Barleyisespecially enticing,asthegreenears,�irstturned uptothesky,awnslikebrushes, graduallydroopintoagracefularch. As theyripen,thecolourchanges,each cerealslowlyturningyelloworgold.
Oatsareasoftergreenandripen differentially,�ieldsappearinggreenand goldatthesametime.
Cloud shadows on wheat�ield, Salisbury Plain
Below: green wheat stems
Right: Pink awned barley ears
Above: colourful oat stems
Ripening oats, Salisbury Plain
“I’mstandingonthetopofPilsdonPen,overlookingthepatchworkofarableandgrass�ieldsspread belowmeintheMarshwoodVale,WestDorset.Althoughthesea’sonthehorizonbeforeme,it’s vanishedagainstthemilkyskyandhaze.
It’sachillymidsummerday’smorning,andthehedgerowoaksarescarfedwithcoolmist.AllIcanhear isbirdsonganddistantmooing.
”
Thelastcommongrasscrop,maize, growshugelyoverthesummer,ending uparustlingforestoverhead-heightby earlyautumn.
Fromtinygreenshootsinneatrowsin May,tostemstoppedwithpink-tasselled male�lowersinsummer,bySeptember itssturdyplantsarebearingmultiple cobsreadyforthefeedbin.
New maize shoots, Pilsdon
Ripening maize, Pilsdon
Misty maize forest, Chideock
Andlastly,wehaverape(canolainNorth America),acruciferousplantratherthan agrass,grownfortheoilintheseeds.
Aseaofbrilliantyellow�lowerswitha stronghoneyscentinthespring providesafeastforbees,�liesand beetles.
The�lowerheadsmatureintogreenspiky seedpods,whichturnstrawcolouredas theyripen,beforethecropissprayedoff readyforcombining.
Flowering rape, Pinhay
Green rape pods, Uplyme
Ripe pods, ditto
ComeAugustorSeptember,thecombine harvestersandtractorsandtrailersare outinforce. Theeveningaironawarm drydaymaybealivewiththeroarof machinerylateintothenight,and plumesofdustdriftingacrossthesky.
Foradayortwo,roundorrectangular strawbalesmaybeartfullyarrangedfor thephotographer,butbeforelong,they aresafelystackedinbarnsreadyforthe winter.
Straw(stalksfromgraincropsand maize)istraditionallyusedbothfor animalforage,andalsoforbedding. Moreinnovativeusesincludebiomass andsoilconditioner,orhouseinsulation material.
Baled straw, Pinhay
“Thisviewacrossthe�ieldsnexttomyhouse,takeninSeptember,isveryevocativeofthetimeofyear, withsubduedhazyearlymorningsunshinecastingshadowsfromthestrawwindrows,readyforthe baler.Itconjuresupthedrydustysmellofthestraw,thecawingofrooksinthetrees,andthecrisp crunchofstubbleunderfoot.
”
Straw bales at sunset, Uplyme
Newly cut stubble, Uplyme
Straw stack waiting for the trailer, Uplyme
Wheatstraw(calledwheatreed)isstill usedforthatchinginpartsofEngland. Moderncornvarietieshaveshortstraw, buttallheritagevarietiesaresometimes grownforthethatcher.(Sadly,mostis importednowadays…)
Afterthestraw’stakenoffthe�ields, onceagaintheyarefullofstubbleand chaff,readytostartanewcycleinthe farmingyear.
Afewdaysforrooksandpigeonsto searchforspiltseedifthey’relucky,and thentheploughreturns,givingthebirds afeastofwormsandbeetlestoenjoy. Gulls�locktofollowthetractor,a temporarydistractionfrom�ishand chips!
Stooks of thatching straw, Chideock
Rotations
It’slongbeenknownthatplantsgrow betterifyoudon’tkeepgrowingthe samethinginthesameplace.Thismight meanleaving�ieldsfallow,oralternating croppingandgrazing.
Inthe18thcentury,CharlesTownshend popularisedafour-croprotation(wheat, turnips,barleyandclover),whichhad theadvantageofincludinganitrogen�ixingcrop(clover)onwhichanimals couldalsograze–adoublebonusofsoil fertilityimprovement.
Withtheadventofwidely-available inorganicfertilisers,there’slessreliance onleguminouscrops,butrotationisstill helpfultopreventthebuild-upof disease,pestsandweeds.
Awned wheat, Uplyme
Isometimesseemoreunusualcropsina rotation.Fieldbeanswiththeirrather off-puttingscentlikecheaptoiletcleaner, lavendergrownforitsessentialoil,or greenmanureploughedintoimprove thesoil– Phacelia forexample.
Andofcoursepoppies–beloved emblemsofourpastwhenchemical herbicidewasn’tinventedandmost corn�ieldssportedlotsofarableweeds–poppy,corn�lower,cornmarigold, corncockle,chamomileandlotsof others.Poppiesarealsogrown commerciallyinsomeareas–blowsyred ormauveopiumpoppiesfor pharmaceuticalsandpoppy-seeds.
Phacelia near Owslebury
Opium poppies, Winterborne Stoke
Opium poppies near Milborne St Andrew
“Whilethesequenceofcropsgoesonlargelyunchangedovertheyears,everysooften,croporlivestock pricetrendschangewhat’seconomictogrow.
We’velatelynoticedturnipsplantedinthespringasnextwinter’sfeedforsheep–atimelessscene that(apartfromthecommercialsheepbreedandelectricfencing)couldhavebeenseenforhundreds ofyears.
”
Lavender, Owslebury
Poppies, cuckoo �lower and wheat, Kilmington
Wild�lowermeadowscanbeseminatural(forexample,rarelyseenbut beautifultraditionalhaymeadows),or speci�icallyplantedbothfortheir conservationvalueandtoharvestthe seedsforotherstogrow.
Dependingonthesoil,thespecies presentwillvaryalot,butyellowrattle iscommonlyincludedinseedmixes. Thisplantisparasiticongrassesand reducestheirvigour,whichgreatly bene�itsalltheotherspeciespresent.
Wild�lower meadow, Hogchester, Charmouth
Right: yellow rattle and Yorkshire fog
Below: oxeye daisy, knapweed, grasses
Above: wild carrot
Waifs and strays
Forthefarmer,acleanmonocultureis theideal,butnatureandhumanerror sometimesthwartthisaim.
Theheadlandsandhedgesare,ifnot sprayedoff,richinwild�lowers(aka weeds),andmarginalpatchesof unproductivelypoorlandareoftenleft uncultivated,soonburgeoningina summerriotofdock,thistle,nettle, cloverandchamomile.
Thereisaprofusionofephemeralweeds thatareadaptedtosuddengrowthwhen conditionsallow,sometimeslying dormantformanyyears.
A �loriferous headland in spring
Nettle and creeping thistle, Uplyme
Sow thistle at sunset, Uplyme
Sometimes,thesprayeraccidentally missespartofthe�ieldandlongdormant weedseedsgerminatefora briefseasoninthesun,ortheytake advantageofbarepatchesofsoilwhere thetractorhasmissedorthesoilistoo poortobotherplanting.
Andoften,eitherbecausetheseedwas mixedup,orlastyear’scrophas germinatedfromfallenseeds,the monocultureiscontaminatedbyweeds–justtherightplantinthewrongplacein thiscase.
Last year’s wheat in this year’s oats, Uplyme
Last year’s rape in this year’s barley, Uplyme
Barley with rape, poppies and meadow grass, Uplyme
Wild chamomile growing in tractor lines, Uplyme
Uncultivated �ield corner, Uplyme
Sometimesifacropfails(perhapsit rainedheavilyandsoilandseedswashed away,ortheseedhopperranout,orthe soilwastoopoor),thefailedareamaybe re-cultivatedandacovercropplanted.
Thisisusuallyaquick-growingannual cropthatprotectsthesoilfromerosion, andmayhaveotherbene�itslike�ixing nitrogenorprovidingnectar,pollenand seedsforinsectsandbirdsrespectively.
Ploughedin,inautumn,it’sagreen manure.
Cover crop, Uplyme (Phacelia and charlock)
Wild oats, bistort and chamomile, crimson clover
Phacelia, charlock, chamomile
Grazing
Iliveinthemild,wet,countyofDevon, wheregrassisareallyimportantcrop. Grazedstraightfromthe�ieldbysheep andcows,orallowedtogrowlongerand cutforwinterforage–hay,haylageand silage.
Aswellasleysorleas(sowngrassmixes, perhapswithclover,sanfoinorother herbs)grownaspartofarotation,there aretraditionalpermanentpastures–hay meadowsandwatermeadows,much richerinwild�lowers.
“ ”
The�ieldbehindourhouseisaglorioussightinlatespringandearlysummer,thickwithgolden�ield buttercups,puffsofdandelionseedandspiresofredsorrel�lowers.
Beforethehayiscut,thesettingsunlimnseachgrassstemwithgoldenlight:timothy,Yorkshirefog, meadowgrassandryegrass.
Field buttercups in permanent pasture, Uplyme
Damp meadow with yellow �lag and marsh thistle, Parracombe
Ley with marks from the roller, Uplyme
“It’shighsummer, andI’mstandinginaripeninghay�ieldfullofredsorrelandgoldenbuttercups.This viewisspecialforme,redolentasitiswiththepromiseoflongsunnydays,thescentofthemeadow, andthesoundofskylarkshighoverhead.
It’sonlyashortwalkpastthatwhitehousetowhereIlive,andItrynevertoforgethowluckyIamin myruralsurroundings.
”
HayisripegrasscutinJuneorJuly (weatherpermitting),allowedtodryfor acoupleofdaysinthe�ield,turnedbya tedder,andthenbaled.
Aripehaymeadowhasaverydistinctive scent(mostlyfromanorganiccompound calledcoumarin,C₉H₆O₂).Ifyouopena baleofgoodhayinwinter,thesweet smell,andperhapsaperfectlypressed purpleknapweed�lower,bothevokethe pastsummer.
Ahaymeadowmaybeaspeci�icsown grassmix(ryeandtimothyare common),oramorenaturalassemblage ofspecies,includingYorkshirefog, cocksfoot,sweetvernalgrass,crested dogstailormeadowfoxtail,amongst manyothergrassesandherbs.
Foxtail and Yorkshire fog at sunset, Uplyme
Freshly cut grass before tedding, Uplyme
Round hay bales, netted, Uplyme
Silageiscutearlierthanhay(fromMay inagoodyear),green,andcollectedup, thenallowedtofermenteitherinbig wrappedbalesorinlargecovered clamps.Aroundbalewrapperisan improbablecontraptionworthyof WallaceandGromit’sinventions!
Haylageishalfwaybetween,beingsemifermentedhay.Thefermentation increasesbothitskeepingpowersand digestibility.
The�ieldsgofromgreentopaleyellow aftercutting,thengraduallygreenup againforasecondorthirdcutinagood season.
Oneoftheevocativesoundsofacountry summeristhedistantdroneofaforage harvester,oftengoingonintothenight whiletheweatherholdsandbeforethe dewfalls.
Cut grass wilting before collection, Uplyme
Silage bale with 2-colour wrap, Uplyme
“ ”
HereistheviewacrosstheCanningtonValleyfromourgardeninUplyme.Thesilagewascutandtaken awayacoupleofweeksago,andthepasturehasgreenedupenoughforthecattletoenjoythenew growth.Thesteeperslopesofanoldquarryweren’tcutandlooklighterincolour.
Thisisasucklerherdofbeefcattle,wherethecalvesstaywiththeirmothersintheirnaturalsocial groups.
“RedDevonsteergrazinginthewoodsatTrinityHillLocalNatureReserve.WhenIcameunexpectedly acrosshimwhenIwasgoingforawalk,Iwasstruckbythethoughtthat(ignoringtheeartagsand trackercollar)onecouldalmosthavebeenbackintime,whenwildcattlebrowsedtheforest. Theanimal’sstance,withheadloweredtoseeunderthebranches,isverytypical.
”
Conservationgrazingisnotsomuch gearedtowardsmeatorwool production,buttothequalityofthe vegetation – anditsimprovement.
Nativebreedcattlearemostcommonly deployed,butponies,sheepand occasionallygoatsorpigsallhavetheir speci�icwaysofchanginganecosystem.
Forexample,pigsrootleandclear stubbornweeds,andhoofedanimals makepocketsforseedgerminationas theytreadontheturf.Cattleleavethe grasslongandtuftyastheypullitwith theirtongues;sheepnibblethesward withasinglesetoflowerincisors,and poniescancropturfalmosttonothing.
Bothcattleandgoatsareef�icient browsersoftoughandscrubby vegetation.
And�inally,wehaveroughgrazingon moors,heaths,salt-marshesandhills. Thisistypicallylessmanagedandless intensivelygrazed–bycattle,sheepand nativeponies.
Theanimalsmaybeheftedoncommon upland–instinctivelyknowingtheir hometerritoryandpassingonthis knowledgetotheiroffspringwithoutthe needforextensivefencingorwalls.
Theybene�itfrombeingabletochoosea widerangeofherbsandshrubsaswell asgrasses.
Rough grazing for sheep, Isle of Skye
Blackface ewe and lambs, Dartmoor
Dartmoor hill ponies on the moor
Livestock
Fromdiscussinggrazing,wefollowon naturallytoabitmoreaboutthe livestockthatbene�itfromit–asdowe eventually–ifweconsumemeatand dairyproduce,orwearwoolorleather.
Whetherhighly-breddairycattleor roughrare-breedsheep,I�indallthese farmanimalsfascinating,bothtowatch theirbehaviour (mostarehighlysocial) andfortheirinherentbeauty.
British Holstein dairy cattle, Shapwick, Uplyme
Devon Red beef steers, Trinity Hill, Uplyme
Guernsey dairy cows, Osmington
Devon Red and Angus cross suckler herd, Uplyme
“Oneofthoseutterlysurrealmomentsthatcatchyousometimes.WalkingnearColytoninEastDevon onemistyNovembermorning,suddenlyIcameacrossallamaposingbyawirefence.Itssilhouette,so poised,elegantanddistinctive,wasirresistible.
”
At the show
To�inishmyrural journey,we’repaying avisittomylocalagriculturalshow–Melplash–heldeveryAugustin Bridport.
Forme,thebestbitistheanimallines, whereonecanadmireprimpedand pampered livestockofallkinds. (Oh,andthecidertent!)
Herearejustafewcameos.
Champions’ parade, Melplash Show
Below: pigtail
Right: Blackface wool
Above: Longhorn coat
Below: Golden Guernseys
Right: Blue Leicester wool
Above: Silkie bantams
“VisitingEastAngliainearlyautumn,Isawmorevariedcropsina10-minutedrivethanIdoinmonths athome.Fieldsofsugarbeet,brassicas,potatoes,onionsandsun�lowers,aswellasmaizeand (harvested)corn.
ThisissugarbeetatHappisburghlighthouse.
”
Afterword
Ihopeyou’veenjoyedthis,averypersonalviewofrurallife.ItisinevitablybiasedtowhatIseearound me,somissesallthecropsthataren’tcommonwhereIlive – forexample,allkindsofvegetables,cut �lowers,�lax,hemp,softfruit,biomass,orwillow.
Withthankstomyfriendsandfamilywhoofferedadviceandencouragementinequalmeasure,andto theorganisersofRPSDigitalImagingGroup’sbookprojectforspurringmeon.
Allerrorsandomissionsaremineentirely.
Mixed breed young beef cattle, Blackbury
About the author
IliveinruralEast Devon,justashort walktotheDorset border.Wemoved herein1985when mychildrenwere small,andtheygrew upinavillageand smalltowncommunity;bothnowlive incities!I’mas contentasalimpetin mylittlegrooveherethough.
IreadgeologyatUniversitybutjobsinminingand oilwerenotreallyopentowomeninthe1970s, andbychanceIsawanadsaying“Wouldyoulike towriteforaliving?”Thatstartedmeoffinwhat’s turnedouttobealong(almost50years)and satisfyingcareerasatechnicalauthor. Ialsodida lotofconsultancyinwebusabilityandinformation architecture,whichful�illedmynerdishtendencies.
Thatallexercisedmyleftbrain,butIfelttheneed tobemorecreative,andinmy50s,Istartedto makepotteryandtakemyphotographymore seriously.I’vebeeninvolvedwithvariouslocalarts organisationsandlatterlyvolunteeringextensively fortheRoyalPhotographicSociety. AndImakebooks-handmadeandprinted.
Snowy �ields, Uplyme
