Redland Green Club's new biodiversity corner
November 2023
Spearheaded by club member Rita Bourn, a new wildflower meadow has been seeded in the club's new biodiversity corner. This is the elevated, triangular grassed area outside the junction of two tennis courts, opposite the entrance to the Bowling Club. The land belongs to the club.
In one of November's few dry periods, RGCG members Stephen Pill, Julie Parker and Rita prepared the ground for seeding with a mix of wildflower seeds. The club had strimmed the grass in late summer, and Stephen gave the grass a further close cut with a brush cutter. Rita and Julie removed the grass cuttings (so they don't rot in situ and increase the soil fertility) and then seeded the area with a mix of yellow rattle, common and greater knapweed, meadow scabious, meadow cranesbill, wild carrot and others - many of these seeds had been harvested from our wildflower meadow at the Cossins Rd end of the Green, or from locally grown wildflowers in the allotments.
To prevent - we hope - too many of these seeds disappearing down the throats of the area's healthy and flourishing wood pigeon population, we decided to trample the seeds into the ground (great fun too!). We have also covered part of the seeded area with mulching mat, which will be removed in early spring. So we have a small and informal experiment in progress: will more seeds survive to germinate under the mulching mat than is the case for those exposed to birds (and doubtless, other threats)? We will see next summer!
The biodiversity corner started off with three fruit trees (excellent value for wildlife) planted a few years ago. The hedge, planted in spring 2023, has survived the summer well, with few losses.
Rita is an active member of RGCG and the Club's representative on the RGCG committee. RGCG enjoys an excellent working relationship with Redland Green Club and would like to thank them for their support in supporting the club's biodiversity corner. Richard Bland, the eminent local naturalist who years ago advised RGCG on actions we could take to improve the Green's biodiversity, would be delighted with this latest initiative.
February 2023 - a new hedge
In a fabulous initiative by Redland Green Club member Rita Bourn, and with the support of RGCG, Redland Green has a new hedge - its third.
The whips for the new hedge include a rich variety of traditional hedgerow species: hawthorn, hazel, dog rose, dogwood, rowan, wild privet, guelder rose and spindle.
The mound on which the whips were planted belongs to the club, and already houses three fruit trees. Fruit trees are particularly good for wildlife, with a long span of value over the year. Their blossoms provide nectar, insects seeking nectar attract birds seeking food, and fruits are enjoyed by birds and humans alike - and other mammals.
When the row of small trees has grown enough, it will be laid, using age-old methods, and following the example of Redland Green's other two hedgerows: the field maple hedgerow along Metford Road allotment's fence, and the mixed species hedgerow at the back of the St Oswald's Road properties.
Hedgerows are wonderful value for wildlife. A Guardian article from two years ago has an excellent overview of their benefits in the UK countryside.