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Old Down Open Day August 16th 2 - 4pm
We plan to have another Open Day on Old Down (or if raining in the Community Hall) to tell people more about what we are doing and to give children and adults an opportunity to find out more about its wildlife potential. We aim to have some interesting activities for children as well. Please come along and introduce yourselves, join us to learn more or to help and take part occasionally, ask questions, bring friends or offer your thoughts and ideas on wildlife and Old Down management matters.
Consultation on Grass Cutting and Pilot Wildflower Seeding
The Borough Council recently consulted on proposals to introduce an annual mowing regime for Old Down together with a pilot project for increasing wildflower diversity. Responses were almost universally positive and together the Borough and the Group will be moving these plans forward. By way of explanation the mowing plans will involve cutting and clearing dead vegetation at the end of each summer from parts of the down. The cuttings will be left in a a small area to compost. The purpose of this approach is to stop dead plants from overlaying seed dropped by wildflowers which need partly exposed earth and lots of sun to germinate and flourish. The method is an alternative to grazing and is designed to encourage wildflower seed to colonise more of the down and to encourage other wildflowers to return. More wildflowers will create a more attractive Old Down and increase numbers of insects, (including butterflies), birds and small mammals all of which are threatened by loss of habitat all around us.
Pilot seeding, will begin with ground preparation in July and August and seed sowing in September. This is a first for Basingstoke and success could lead to a bigger project. The group will create a small space approximately 25 metres by 13 metres (80' X 40') divided into 2. One half will be fenced for the duration of the trial with wire fencing and the other half left unfenced so that we are able to assess the impact of people, rabbits and pets. On a larger scale fencing becomes costly and we would like to avoid this - but we would like people to avoid the open area if they can.
Grasses in both areas will be mostly eliminated, the soil rotavated and raked to create a tilth and a new grass and wildflower mix will be sown. To ensure the wildflowers become well established we need them to develop strong root systems. This means that during the first summer only (2009) the plants will be kept short to keep flowering to a minimum.
If you are interested to help us with our work or to learn more then please contact Paul Beevers on 01256 475944 or:
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Article supplied by Kempshott Kourier)
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