This is one reason I so enjoy the walk talk of Peter Hudson.
‘And this temperature is before El Nino and the change of the Jetstream.. Europe is experiencing bands of hot temperatures now. It was a hot day.
In the meadow I am so jealous of, amid the many grasses, grow yellow and purple vetch. Evidently cut in July the seeds left to settle down before the grass taken away to prevent over nutrification. The herb flowers were once important for livestock, as they were natural antibiotics.
(I wonder if a group will be taking a meander around my woodland in 30-100 years time?)
Pound Farm, 200 acres, was sold/given to the Woodland Trust in 1990’s, and in effect re-wilded from then. That’s 10 years before Knepp. Before that mostly arable farming land with pockets of ancient woodland. From 1990 to 1993, more than 60,000 native broadleaf trees were planted over an area of 56 hectares (138.4 acres) under the Farm Woodland Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme.
Evidence of new planting. Indeed Pond farm was the first farm suffering from Ash die back. Peter’s lesson – don’t interfere – Let nature decide which succeeds – in this case maple.
Nettles, still residue of previous farming methods, rich soil.
Biodiversity Economics – Spruce and pine/ Importance of Small Leafed lime –
Nightingale
Indicator species, the Zora spider
Broad-leafed trees, pump out 40 gallons of water a day, so enormous effect on ambient temperatures.
Photos below, of meadow, and two of my ‘meadow’
Kaliwood 