Nature - Stockbridge Meadows

Nature

Stockbridge Meadows

Stockbridge Meadows Nature Reserve provides a quiet green space in the heart of Melbourn for the enjoyment of the public. It is easy to access and if you have the time to sit quietly you may well see a glimpse of a muntjac deer or sight a woodpecker or buzzard. In the summer, there are butterflies and wildflowers to admire.

When thinking of a Nature Reserve your first thoughts are probably not about the management of the habitat or even that this has to happen. However, without such a plan the area would soon return to scrub land and the carefully planned wildlife habitats would disappear. Stockbridge Meadows maintenance plan is delivered by the Village Rangers and a small group of volunteers working together.

Two major tasks are the cutting of the reed beds and the raking of the Wildflower meadow. The meadow has to be cut around about May and then cut again in the middle of August. Following the August cut the meadow needs to be raked to ensure that the soil remains poor allowing the wild flowers to compete with the grass and nettles. While the reed beds along the Board walk need to be cut in the autumn so that the area doesn’t return to dry land and this wet habitat is maintained for the newts, toad and frogs to spawn.

In September and October we welcomed two separate groups of volunteers from Johnson Matthey. In September, a group of eight volunteers worked alongside two Stockbridge Meadow volunteers to rake and remove the debris from the Wildflower Meadows. The debris which was raked off was

transported to the ‘reptile’ area, as grass snakes will lay their eggs in the debris next spring.

In October, a larger group of thirteen volunteers helped to cut the reed beds using long handled scythes in the traditional manner. As there was such a large group some of the volunteers helped remove the wire cages which had provided vital protection for the newly planted shrubs when the reserve was first planted. Over the years a lot of the posts holding the wire in place had become rotten and the cages were falling apart. As the shrubs are now fully matured and able to withstand being eaten by deer it was an ideal opportunity to use the volunteers help to remove the affected cages.

The weather was dry and sunny for both days and although all the tasks are physically hard work everyone had an enjoyable time with the added bonus of knowing they had helped the local wildlife.

If you would like to know more about volunteering at Stockbridge Meadows contact Maureen Brierley on 01763 262752 We are extremely grateful to the volunteers from Johnson Matthey for their enthusiasm and interest in Stockbridge Meadows and hope to welcome them back next year.