Topic: If only more wasteland would be like this...

[goodlife]

...world would be much prittier place . There would not be lack of butterflies and bees...
Brings my inner hippy out.. ;D Flower power!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2022610/One-couple-57-flowers-Somerset-meadow-turned-field-dreams.html

[brownowl23]

that looks fantastic and imagine all the beautiful butterflies that are hardly seen these days.

[shirlton]

Wow. Now thats a real meadow!

[Uncle_Filthster]

I'm afraid it's just a bit of glossy packaging with very limited ecological value and nothing at all like a proper species rich meadow.  It's almost completely comprised of non-native species and offers little more than a nectar source for strong flying butterflys and other insects.  That doesn't help much if there are no larval foodplants about.

There is no such thng as 'wasteland' and that word riles me just a bit!  The odds are that the 'wasteland' probably had more value for butterflies, insects, and birds before it's glossy makeover as brownfield sites often provide good conditions and microhabitats for larval foodplants, basking areas, nectar sources, etc.  Therefore providing an area for the complete life cycle of a butterfly.  The dingy skipper is a classic example of how important brownfield sites can be for some species.

But that's just my opinion as a professional ecologist (I'm sure they'll rake in plenty of cash from visitors buying overpriced pots of jam and suchlike)..... 8)

[sunloving]

Hi Im afarid i agree with Uncle F.
 

Im sure that the intensions are good but brown field sites have  high wildlife value and to replace them with non natives is a shame and worse could be a crime. They arent pretty but wildlife doesnt care.

Japanease knotweed, himalayan balsam, water hyacinth etc all got started as garden plants and montbrcia and red valairian are just begining to be pests in certain areas of the country and michelmas daisiys are not native to many areas of the UK so lets try not to plant anything in the wild that we arent going to contain and monitor and know fully that its not going to reek havoc on our natives. we have so little of it left.

x sunloving

[goodlife]

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with very limited ecological value and nothing at all like a proper species rich meadow Yes that is true..but...surely if you have field that has very few species to start with and perharp majority of them grasses (I'm not claiming this is the case with this field)..even the non native plants will offer valuable food source for the insects. Aren't we suppose provide these 'nectar highways' to allow spread of the insects which otherwise would stuggle.

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Japanease knotweed, himalayan balsam, water hyacinth..well..these are in totally different gategory with the annuals that have been used in that field. And those escaped when knowledge of the plants wasn't as good as it it now. But I do agree with you too...using natives should be encouraged and used more.
It is said that bees in towns and cities are doing better than in countryside because of the various garden flowers.
To me term 'wasteland' means species poor ground.

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brown field sites have  high wildlife value    they can,but not necessary.. are they beneficial only for certain species? Of course we need variable kinds of sites..the 'poor' sites may keep some food specific species alive. And other 'nectar rich' sites provide again something else.
But in lighter note..even with the 'alien' species..this Homo sapiens feels like those flowers are sight for the sore eyes..and if there is few more fields like that, surely it is better than nothing..and why cannot my species have a 'spot' of enjoyment when it is not doing not harm for our cohabitants ;) Perharps this field will cause some people to try some wildflowers in their own gardens..which again will add to the value/effect this field has in future. It may give that little educational 'seed' that is needed for further improments in our nature.
We've already commented that site..somebody else may read our post ..and the ball is rolling..

[Digeroo]

But too many of the flowers are not native.  Sorry for me this is not a flower meadow but a garden.  Had something of the sort in my front garden a few years ago, very difficult to maintain it long term. 

I am sorry but I think this 'meadow' should be removed asap before the seeds escape into the neighbouring countryside.

I would like to see the return of more of the real flower/hay meadows which were still around in my youth. 

In Austria they still have lots of them, and each field has a slightly different mix of flowers caused by habitually cutting them on a cycle of differing times. 

[claybasket]

I think someone got out the wrong side of the bed ,lighten up ,there's worse things happening in the countryside ,enjoy it for the beautiful thing that it is,a field of flowers.not G .M. crops or rape seed,have a nice day chill out .

[Digeroo]

I did not get out of bed the wrong side.  I want to see the wild flower meadows back.  The places where I chased butterflies as a child have had soil dumped on them and are a wasteland. 

The field in question is called the field of dreams and should have stayed a dream.

A whole lot of froeign flowers and garden cultivars have no place in a natural field.  It is every bit as bad as GM or a field of rape. 

Lets bring back our wild flowers and our butterfleis.

[grawrc]

Did you notice that their consultant is an expert in wild flowers and a renowned lepidopterist? I think there may well be lots of wildlife there including butterflies.

The list includes foreign flowers but just looking at the photo you can see loads of native ones. People have been introducing foreign plants for centuries. We just need to look around our gardens and the list grows. And on the allotment ... potatoes, tomatoes, basil, onion,fennel ..... the list is very very long!! A small number of these got out of hand and can cause problems but there are thousands that don't and delight us every day!

Wildflower meadows are notoriously difficult to keep since the thugs tend to take over and squeeze out the other plants but with proper care they can be maintained, clearing areas and reseeding.

I don't know what the weather is like where you are. Here it was pelting down when I opened Goodlife's link. And looking at the photo I could smell the blossom and hear the buzz of busy insects and I smiled to myself. I suspect that was her purpose. Thank you Goodlife!

[grannyjanny]

Funny you should say that Grawrc. You have just reminded me that I have a herbal book & whenever I look at the cover which is a wheel of wild flowers I feel calm. I must go & look for it, I need calming ;D.

[Busby]

I well recall the bomb sites in London just after the war. There were so many sites that it took two to four or five years before they were used for rebuilding. Many of the houses had had gardens. Amongst the rubble and devastation I can remember the marigolds showing their colours and all the other wild things growing as if by magic. We, as children, used to sit on piles of bricks surrounded by flowers.

Here, in Switzerland where I now live, we have the co-called 'mountain summer' this depends upon the weather but it's mainly in June; all unfertilsed pastures and fields are full of flowers, the owners are paid by the government not to cut the grass for hay until after seeding has taken place.

It's a beautiful sight but today you have to know where to go, the pressure on agriculture to make a quick profit is constant.

[Uncle_Filthster]

There is a whole world of hurt between this 'thing' and real biodiversity/habitat creation.  There is a big difference between some rich geezer that slaps up tourist cash cow butterfly domes and pseudo eco-meadows, and also the knowledge of the journalists reporting it compared to what real ecologists do.  Good PR to sell pots of jam though!

I could write chapter and verse on the subject of habitat creation, ecological value and biodiversity with doing it as a job but unfortunately I don't get paid to pass on in depth specialist knowledge on a forum (nor do I have the time).  Maybe I should sell some 200g pots of jam for £3.50 or 50g of fudge for £2.49 when people visit the areas I have done some real habitat creation in!  :P  ;D

I suppose I see things differently from doing it everyday compared to the glossy thin veneer that gets shown to the public in 'oh my, isn't that pretty' displays kept all neat and tidy or whatever make money from wildlife (but actually do very little) PR stunt the wildlife trust has in the local paper.

I'm not bitter, honest (the pots of jam keep me sweet)!  ;D

[sunloving]

Well
I think the difficulty here is that if it was marketed as a very pretty nectar rich garden then there wouldnt be any problem- its is beautiful and the annuals do provide a nectar bar for the period they are in flower.

The problem arises becuase its being hailed as a wildlife area and it doesnt have the lasting diversity value that many natural brownfield sites have and it is wrong for it to be hailed as something its not.

Its a beuatiful garden but it is not a good peice of habitat the way it has been planted(non natives, non food plants and non of the small little patches of bare and shelter and bright sun and wet that it probably was before) and there is a question over how many species were lost in its creation and maintainace. It certainly isnt a good example of habitat creation or wildlife freindly management.

x sunloving (Doctor in ecology)

[Uncle_Filthster]

I think that happens far too much Sunloving.  All of these spring bulb and tree planting schemes that go on claiming to be helping wildlife or 'reducing carbon footprint' are just a PR stunt to rake in cash really and give people the wrong impression.

Then you end up with the situation of people having a little information or being fed misinformation thinking they know a lot, which is the most dangerous thing when it comes to conservation as they just go off and do stupid things thinking they are doing some good.

Example: I once had to try and inform a bloke that he couldn't just go around the area planting trees (lots of sycamore and beech) everywhere he saw a bit of grass.  He had been planting trees all off his own back in species rich neutral grassland because he had the common misconception that planting trees was conservation and conservation was all about planting trees.

[sunloving]

Yes its a shame, wouldnt it be great to teach ecology in primary school and gardening school and of course in media studies!

My studies have ruined my ability to watch nature and gardening programmes and read the paper, now spend to much time shouting at tv and stomping about rolling my eyes! there are some dodgy consultants about all to willing to take the money but not do whats best.

Sighs if i ruled the world.......
x sunloving

[Uncle_Filthster]

Indeed, the little that does get taught is usually by teachers that don't know anything themselves!  Back when I was a Ranger we did our best to get a good message through but when faced with teachers unwilling to understand and scared of 'creepy crawlies' what can you do?

I can't watch anything nature related myself either, and if a programme happens to be on when I'm in the room I end up ranting and getting called a nutter by the family  :o ;D.  In the last few years the content has been progressively dumbed down to imbecile level with the programmes seemingly being more about the presenter's ego than anything else.  I have also heard about some of the antics of the presenters (direct from those showing them things) and I'm not at all impressed, infact some of their actions could be seen as disturbance of protected species.

Don't get me started on dodgy consultants!  >:( ;D

[green lily]

Well we have a true wasteland backing onto my plot/garden which is full of all sorts- as it should be. My only problem is when all it's nettles, rose bay willow herb, dandelions etc etc seed all over my patch.Then I do sod a bit... ::)
 Mind you I reckon I have the North Lincs collection of bumbles here so no decline hereabouts and my little pond seems to produce newts and frogs to hide among my own very native weeds.. ;).But I once let my front garden in another place flower instead of cutting. Flowers didn't last long but people seemed to love it.

[Alex133]

The flower meadow shown may not be ecologically perfect but it's still a million times better than a standard crop field drenched in pesticide and overloaded with fertiliser.