For How Long ?

Sat. 8th July 2017

                         The precious stretch of old pasture in the fields adjacent to our house is earmarked for building in the next few years so it looks as though the tapestry of orchids and wild flowers that the locals have loved so much will be gone for ever.

                    When the time arrives there will be a public consultation as to what can be done to protect these beautiful orchids which are multiplying each year. The demand for new houses puts this land under a lot of pressure even though it's Green Belt.

                   

   
              A mixture of Common Spotted And Southern Marsh orchids

                            A variant of the Common Spotted Orchid

                                           Southern Marsh Orchid

                          Soon this lovely area may be lost for ever

                         

TO MOW OR NOT TO MOW... that is the question

 Wed.5th July 2017
            I've just had a look round our local industrial estate this afternoon and there are extreme contrasts in the appearance of some of the local industrial units witch are surrounded by grassy areas. The grass that has been mowed looks tidy, neat almost a sterile desert but it does give a good impression  about the tidiness of the company to which it belongs.
whilst other companies the grassy ares have been left to grow and are full of Wild Flowers at least four species of Orchids, many Bees, Insects and quite a few Butterflies.
       I know that appearances and first impressions count but are the companies doing enough to support and preserve our flora  and wildlife on all the industrial estates the seem to be springing up all over our countryside?

                                     Mown within an inch of its life

 Left uncut, masses of Common Spotted Orchids amongst other wild flowers

               The first time in our area that I've seen Pyramidal Orchids
                                                     

                                    A Bee Orchid well past its best

                         Common Spotted Orchid ( white form)

                               My preference...grass left uncut