In November 2014 we took on two flowery meadows on the east Kent coast near Deal. About six acres in total, they are in an exposed position on a low chalk cliff with a quiet road and shingle beach below. The smaller meadow had been an arable field until about 1985, and the larger one until about 2005. Since coming out of agriculture, they had been maintained by the previous owners as grassy fields which they regularly mowed through the summer, letting the cut grass lie where it fell.
We had no previous experience of looking after land and had so much to learn, but we already knew that we wanted to manage the meadows for nature and aim for as much biodiversity as we could. We called upon Kent Wildlife Trust to come and do a baseline plant survey and give us advice on how to proceed. This was an invaluable starting point, although we haven’t necessarily followed all their advice!
Our journey since taking on the meadows has involved all sorts of trials and tribulations, but many successes as well, and this blog has recorded them all.
Digging our first pond in 2015:
In 2019 we bought a wood, inland from the meadows but about the same size, six acres. It is quite a diverse wood, with a third of it recently felled, replanted with native trees and now regenerating with a lush understorey. The other, larger part has a central core of mature Silver Birch that is surrounded by a wide variety of trees.
In 2020 we bought an adjoining six acres of woodland, meaning that we now had twelve acres to manage. This newer section is a lovely mix of youngish trees and is particularly rich in hazel dormice, which is a complete joy.
This blog now covers the wood as well as the meadows. Whilst some of the wildlife is the same in the two habitats, sometimes it is behaving differently. For instance, we have tawny owls visiting both the meadows and the wood. In the dry, chalky meadows the owls are after rodents, but in the wetter wood it seems they are also worming:
This blog records all the highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies of our ongoing journey towards getting the best possible biodiversity in these two differing habitats, and I hope that you will read it and enjoy.
Perfick – You and Dave are most definitely up to the challenge, your love, enthusiasm, dedication and time that you are going to put in to managing this lovely piece of meadowland is going to make you very proud. We look forward to, at times, being a part of this project, if only by contributiing our labour (which I have to say was very enjoyable)!! Look forward to hearing more of this exciting blog.
I’ve just found your site. You have such a lovely range of wildlife to enjoy and protect there. I shall enjoy the contrast with our wet and windy spot.
Thanks for visiting my blog. What an exciting opportunity to view wildlife you have on your acreage. I just looked at the trail cam photos of a fox climbing into a fruit tree — who knew they did that?
Hi Judy you have won my swallow matches giveaway over on sunshine and celandines!
If you would like to email me your address shazzarob@hotmail.co.uk I can post them to you. There may be a delay as off on holiday in a couple of days. X
Thanks for highlighting your Blog to me Judy, love it!
Hello I’ve been caring for mason bees and other solitaries since 2006. I would like to get hold of one of these humidity storage boxes, and I see you use them. But I am having great difficulty as George Pilkington of nurturing nature no longer stocks them and others I have seen are all in America, apart from one on the masonbees.co.uk site which is really just a plastic box with vented lid.
Im in Dymchurch so not that far from your delightful patch.
Fascinating to see more wildlife interest about.
Thank you for any help you can offer
Annette
Hi Annette. I got the humidity storage boxes from George Pilkington, I’m afraid! What a shame that he no longer stocks them because they worked really well. I wonder if he has any suggestions as to where you might get them now or if there is a decent alternative?
For the last few years, I have been a red mason bee guardian for masonbees.co.uk instead and they have been doing that aspect of the work for me and so I haven’t been purchasing the humidity boxes any more.
I’m sorry not to be more help. Dymchurch is a lovely part of Kent!
Judy
Hi Judy
Thanks for your swift reply.
I have messaged George to ask if he knows of anywhere that stocks them and also posted on Facebooks Solitary bees in the UK page. ~
The chap who runs that page said make your own. i have made my own previously, and see another style on etsy but its American so I dont want a hefty bill for tax Had enough of that with a Turkish seller on there
Hi Judy & Dave,
I’ve recently discovered your blog and have loved reading through the entires, getting a flavour for what you two are up to. I’m currently a trainee gardener at Walmer Castle and Gardens under the HBG Traineeship Program, and undertaking a research project on meadows, based around the agricultural field adjacent to the castle (and owned by English Heritage) that is currently used for grazing. The intention is to transform it into a productive and biodiverse meadow.
It’s so lovely to hear of your success, and I would love to pick your brains on the experience of transforming the previous agricultural fields into meadows. Understanding what you have learnt and things you would do differently. If you’d be happy? Can chat through further via email.
I’d be more than happy to come and help when needed.
Thank you,
Josh