Biodiversity in the Meadow

During the past year, local naturalist Jackie Murray has been visiting the Spinney’s Meadow and noting down any plants of interest that she has noticed, as well as butterflies and birds. Although she did not explore the area thoroughly (so as to minimise the amount of trampling and damage that she might do), Jackie has nevertheless spotted an impressive number of flowering plants and grasses in the meadow area over the season. (In addition there are doubtless many more species that either weren’t in flower when she visited or were too far from her route through the long grass for her to see.)

Many thanks for your interest and input, Jackie!

Meadow: Species survey 2021

Flowers seen in the Meadow 2021

Latin name Common name Date first noted

Agrimonia eupatorium Agrimony 6/7/21
Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal orchid 14/6/21
Arum maculatum Cuckoo-pint 14/4/21
Bellis perennis Daisy 14/4/21
Blackstonia perfoliata Yellow-wort 6/7/21
Centaurea nigra Common knapweed 6/7/21
Centaurium pulchellum Lesser centaury 6/7/21
Dactylorhiza fuchsii Common spotted orchid 14/6/21
Daucus carota Wild carrot 6/8/21
Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted hair-grass 6/7/21
Dipsacus fullonum Wild teasel 6/7/21
Euphrasia ?nemorosa Eyebright sp. 6/8/21
Glechoma hederacea Ground ivy 6/5/21
Helianthemum nummularium Rockrose 6/7/21
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire fog 6/7/21
Hypericum perforatum St. John’s-wort 6/7/21
Hypochaeris radicata Cat’s-ear 14/6/21
Knautia arvensis Field scabious 6/7/21
Leucanthemum vulgare Moon daisy 14/6/21
Lotus corniculatus Bird’s-foot trefoil 14/6/21
Malva moschata Musk mallow 6/7/21
Medicago sativa ssp. sativa Lucerne / Alfalfa 6/8/21
Odontites vernus Red bartsia 6/8/21
Ononis repens Common restharrow 6/7/21
Orphrys apifera Bee orchid 14/6/21
Primula veris Cowslip 14/4/21
P. vulgaris Primrose 19/3/21
Plantago media Hoary Plantain 14/6/21
P. radicata Ribwort plantain 14/6/21
Ranunculus acris Creeping buttercup 14/6/21
R. ficaria Lesser celandine 19/3/21
Rhinanthus minor Yellow-rattle 14/6/21
Trifolium dubium Lesser trefoil 14/6/21
T. pratense Red clover 23/5/21
T. repens White clover 14/6/21
Veronica chamaedrys Germander speedwell 14/6/21
Vicia sativa Common vetch 14/6/21
V. tetrasperma Smooth tare 6/7/21
Viola riviniana Dog violet 19/3/21

Grasses seen in the Meadow 2021

(some of the most noticeable species – a very incomplete list!)

Brachypodium sylvaticum False brome 6/7/21
Briza media Quaking grass 14/6/21
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot 6/7/21
Deschampsia cespitosa Tufted hair-grass 6/7/21
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire fog 6/7/21
Phleum pratense Timothy 6/7/21

Butterflies seen in the Meadow 2021

(Not a full study, just species observed while monitoring plants)

Common blue
Green-veined white
Large white
Marbled white
Meadow brown
Peacock
Small heath
Small skipper
Small tortoiseshell
Small white
Specked wood

(In addition there are many day-flying moths, but only Six-spot burnet was identified)

Birds seen in the Meadow 2021

Blackbird
Blue tit
Bullfinch
Buzzard
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared dove
Crow

Great tit
House sparrow
Jackdaw
Kestrel
Lesser whitethroat
Long-tailed tit
Magpie
Pheasant
Red kite
Robin
Rook
Skylark
Song thrush
Whitethroat
Wood pigeon
Wren

Tesco’s Bags of Help

The Spinney is one of three causes nominated at the following Tesco stores.

Bourne superstore – PE10 9LS
Bourne Express – PE10 9AQ
Spalding Matmore – PE11 2PN

Between Jan and 31st March 2020 if we receive the most blue tokens we will be awarded £2k, 2nd – £1k or 3rd – £500.

This spring we need to spend over £1k bark chipping for under play equipment plus pay our annual £1k insurance.

Last work session of 2019

with mulled wine and mince pies (thanks Patrick!). An opportunity to reflect on another great year of outdoor fun. Don’t forget that the site is open every day of the year – a perfect location to walk off festive excesses. Happy Christmas everyone!

Co-op Community Fund

Today we accepted a cheque on behalf of The Spinney for a whopping £2,887 from the Co-op Community Fund.

Thanks to people who shopped at either the Colsterworth or Corby Glen stores and nominated The Spinney.

We have also been selected for 2019 / 20, so please support us by:

If you are already a Co-op member, please choose to support The Spinney by clicking on

https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/31391

and click ‘Sign in’

or click to become a member and choose The Spinney.

Many thanks again from the team at The Spinney

Tree Dressing 23rd November – to be rescheduled to spring 2020..

Unfortunately, due to the rain last night and also rain predicted for all day Saturday we had reluctantly decided to postpone the Tree dressing event and will look to reschedule in early part of 2020.

The spinney site is very wet, muddy and will not be a positive experience..

Please circulate the update

Please watch out on facebook and we will re post the rescheduled date.

A little rain doesn’t stop volunteers

Well, it takes more than a bit of rain to dampen the spirits of the resilient band of helpers at the Spinney. Just a quick tidy up this morning to make it ready to receive the next load of visitors. Don’t forget, the Spinney is FREE to use at any time (although donations towards the upkeep are appreciated) and new recruits to our band of merry assistants are always welcome. Happy Saturday.

‘Butterfly Brothers’, of Bourne

? Did you see Gardeners’ World this week? A lovely programme on meadows and meadow gardening (featuring, coincidentally, two local professional gardeners, the so-called ‘Butterfly Brothers’, of Bourne, and a wonderful wildlife garden they’d created in Bishop’s Stortford).

But don’t forget that you can come and unwind, just like Monty, with a walk around our meadow at any time – it’s aflutter with butterflies at the moment, including the fabulous marbled whites seen in the programme! ?