As many of you will know,over the years there has been a certain amount of controversy over when to cut the grass opposite the cricket pitch.Many cricketers would like to see it kept short all the time,so they do not lose their cricket balls.But this area of land is proving to be an important piece of habitat-a wet meadow.It can even be boggy in nature.This is why there is a good showing of Lady's Smock early in the season.The idea has been to cut the grass after this to allow the plants to increase by seeding.This year you may have noticed it has been left much later and the grass is being raked off.The first observation was that it was rather attractive as a meadow with many different colours present.A much greater variety of plants have been seen,including cowslips,orchids,clovers,buttercups,and importantly,meadow vetchling.This last plant is favoured by the rare long horned bee,that is coming north from the brickworks and has now been seen here..This has been recorded by David Baldock,the local bee expert.
Apart from this,it is now developing into a good butterfly area,these feeding off the variety of plants as they flower.Early in the Spring many Orange-tips were to be seen.Since then we have had Meadow browns,Ringlets,Common Blue,Red Admiral,Peacock,Gatekeeper,Large white ,Small White,Comma,Silver washed fritillary,Small Heath,and a small pearl bordered fritillary.
Please keep your eyes open,I am sure we can add to this list.
Do we want to maintain this land as an important habitat?Your comments please.
P.J.U.

The grass has now been cut once and most of this raked off.Following this, it has been strimmed being careful in the areas where flowering plants are established.Another strimming will take place before the winter.This will ,we hope,reduce the coarse grass and encourage finer grasses. Next year a meadow of shorter grass with more flowers should be produced,which will help the cricketers find their balls in the first part of the year.Only two lost balls were found this time.
P.J.U.