Herefordshire 2023 (6) - Part 1: Hatfield and a Wildflower Meadow

 

Three days after we left Herefordshire we were back!  E was on holiday for the week and we were hoping she would want to go at the end of her break but no she wanted to go on the Saturday. D came along this time too even though he had an exam on the Wednesday. To be honest the noise (after 10 months of it!)  with the rebuilding work next door has been horrendous especially on the day of D's first exam 😡 so revising has been difficult for him at home.

Timothy on the journey

I've been reading this super Logaston Press book at the caravan and its really interesting. It contains everything you could possibly want to know about hops and hop farming and its history.  I often wonder if my paternal grandparents and their families ever went hop picking.

Strawberry moon rising

The Octopus Tree

Herefordshire Oak

The Constable Tree

Rear of the caravan with the small garden and in the border B has planted loads of these cranesbill type geraniums brought from home. They tend to flower all summer.

One evening about 8.00 I spotted one of the hedgehogs running down the border.

I had more success this time with the bat detector too.  Two bats were around on two of the evenings. I think I have been looking for them too early before.  From the range of the frequency of the echolocation calls and the time of emergence I am sure they are probably Natterer's bats.

One afternoon I walked down by the pool and along to the wildflower meadow  as B and D had seen orchids there.

Clover, Buttercups and Ribwort Plantain

I am not sure what this tiny white flower is - I am not very good at identifying tiny white flowers!

First sign of the orchids - there were dozens.

Bird's Foot Trefoil

More orchids - I am not 100 per cent sure so please feel free to correct me - but  I think they are Common Spotted or Heath Spotted. Someone on Twitter suggested Early Marsh but I am not sure if the dots and splashes on the flowers fit.

Ox-eye Daisies or Moon Pennies galore.  As well as Hawthorn and Buttercups it seems a really good year for them. Motorway and road verges are just full of these flowers :)

The following day I went church crawling to 2 local churches - one of which is full of wild flowers which I'll write about in the next two posts.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would appreciate an email first - thanks)

Herefordshire 2023 (4) - Part 2: Stockings Meadow

 

For several years now I have wanted to visit Stockings Meadow, a Herefordshire Wildlife Trust reserve near Bromyard which is good for wild flowers including orchids.

On Saturday, 20th May we finally visited!

The habitat at Stockings Meadow is comprised of unimproved neutral grassland. As the reserve is managed as a hay meadow you are asked to walk only round the edge.  The meadow lies on a fairly steep west facing slope leading down to Hackley Brook.

For 40 years the meadow belonged to a nearby farm and it had been managed as a hay meadow with no artificial manures or herbicides used. This habitat management has meant that a rich flora has been retained and the Wildlife Trust are continuing this form of management. The meadow covers about ten acres.

The name "Stockings" suggest that the site was once covered with stocks (ie tree stumps) suggesting that the site was once woodland but was cleared for agricultural use.  Earthworks indicating an old road (the A44 which has now been re-routed) can be seen.

Today the meadow is filled with wild flowers from Spring onwards and it is cut for hay in mid to late July. The species  change throughout the site depending on the conditions.  The marshy area of the old sunken holloway contains plants such as Ragged Robin and Marsh Marigold (sadly I didn't see any of these in flower).  Many meadow butterflies and pollinators can be seen on the meadow. The large old hedges and bramble thickets around the site are used as breeding sites by Blackcaps, Garden Warblers and Long Tailed Tits.  

Plant species which occur include Common Spotted Orchids, Heath Spotted Orchids, Green Winged Orchids, Cowslips, Yellow Rattle, Wild Angelica, Meadowsweet, Knapweed, Bugle, Marsh Marigold, Devil's Bit Scabious, Sorrel, Meadow Vetchling and Ragged Robin.

There were buttercups galore and loads of Yellow Rattle flowers.

Cowslips were past their best but it must have been a beautiful sight a few weeks ago.

Hawthorn seems to be having an incredibly good year.

Bugle

Meadow Vetchling I think

At the bottom of the hill there were hundreds, if not thousands, of orchids.  Common Spotted, Heath Spotted and hybrids of the two species occur.  In a few weeks when they are fully out it will be a beautiful sight.

Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smock

Germander Speedwell

Me enjoying myself!

*D

We sat in the car and had a late lunch eating the sandwiches and I had a quick look at some of the flowers on the verge in the lane - Greater White Stitchwort, Yellow Archangel and White Dead Nettle along with loads of Cow Parsley.  I really don't think you can beat the May Spring flowers.

We decided to stop off for a drink on the way home - we stopped at two local pubs but for various reasons B wasn't keen on either so we ended up at the lovely Fountain Inn in Tenbury Wells.

The pint of Hereford Pale Ale - it was a lovely beer.

I spotted an old Lotus Elan in the car park - gosh I loved these cars years ago but checking out the prices I won't be having one anytime soon!  Must admit an open top old sports car preferably an old MGB is something I still hanker after!

Photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera - the one marked *D taken by my son with the Canon SX50HS.  I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks.

Reference:  Information Board at the Meadow and

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust Guide to Reserves