Sunday 8th September 2024
Ten keen volunteers gathered on a cloudy, but dry, September afternoon with rakes, gloves and garden recycling bins. For the third year, organised by community action group Green Fifield, villagers came out following the annual cut of the grass on the wildflower verges to clear and remove the cuttings.
These verges are some of the most diverse for wildflowers in the village. Recently recognised by the Oxfordshire County Council as such, the removal of the grass cuttings benefits next year’s array by improving light and air-flow and by reducing soil richness.
In record time the group whizzed up both sides of the road, removing the grass cuttings and bagging them up to send for green recycling. With some areas of knapweed and field scabious still flowering we were treated to some butterfly and moth visitors, including the most popular visitor of the day, a Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata).
A fabulous effort by all involved. As we wheeled ourselves back into the village, anticipation was high for the increased spread and abundance of beautiful wildflower colour in the spring.
