Marvellous Meadows
Who doesn’t love a wildflower meadow? Ok maybe if you’re a serious hayfever sufferer, but otherwise….
June and July are my favourite summer months not only because of the long days but they also usually bring warmth and sunshine that turn our grasslands into a cacophony of colour.
The grasslands and hay meadows around Morecambe Bay are really special features and an integral part of the mosaic of landscapes that make this such a unique place.
A wide variety of flowers (2/3 of the UKs flowering plants!) dominate these habitats with dozens of species flowering from April through to September - including rare orchids, cowslips, dropwort, harebells, various vetches and of course the infamous hay (or yellow) rattle. Hay rattle is often spread into new hay meadows as it parasitizes the more vigorous grasses and allows space for the flowering plants to get hold. During the season the colours change from yellows and whites to pinks, purples and blues, mixing and matching their shapes and scents.
But meadows and grasslands aren’t all about flowers - so much wildlife uses and benefits from these spaces.
Bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths all feed on the nectar and pollen produced by the wide range of flowers in a meadow. Butterflies and moths lay their eggs on different food plants which their caterpillars then rely on for food as they grow.
Birds in turn feed on some of these insects as well as the heads of the flowers and grasses as they set seed. A really key source of energy before autumn and winter set in. Ground nesting birds also use the longer vegetation to build their discrete nests and keep their chicks hidden from predators.
Small mammals like field voles, mice, stoats and weasels also use the jungle of grasses and flowers to make their homes, breed and hunt.
At night bats will often been seen flitting over the meadows and bordering hedgerows to feed on the multitude of insect life that is attracted there.
So yes, meadows are marvellous for wildlife!
They’re also marvellous for people, a perfect spot to sit and watch nature. A peaceful haven on a summer’s day surrounded by the buzzing of insects and tweeting of birds. It really is good for the soul.
Meadows and flower rich grasslands don’t just happen though - like many of the amazing habitats around the bay they take a lot of careful management from humans and animals. Seeding, grazing and cutting with the right tools at the right time of year are vitally important to maintaining that cacophony of colour and life in these marvellous places.
Want to know more? Book a NaturesGems tour!
