Farming, nature and countryside stewardship

The first signs of target species in wildflower plot (AB8) in March following autumn sowing into productive arable ground following barley

Wildflower plot in March after autumn sowing into productive arable ground, following barley - swamped by volunteer (regrowth) barley and in urgent need of topping to let light into target species!

Topping wildflower plot in the first spring/summer after autumn sowing to promote growth of target species and prevent weed species from flowering

Target species such as birdsfoot trefoil, vetches, clover flowering. Still requiring topping to reduce volunteer barley and other weed species.

Wildflower plot (CS option AB8) in its first summer after establishment - autumn-sown into productive arable ground, preceded by barley. This needed regular topping to prevent growth of weeds, promote grasses to tiller and enable wildflower species to establish

An established wildflower meadow in May 2019

Established wildflower meadow at end of June 2019. Ox-eye daisy, birdsfoot trefoil, knapweed, clovers, meadow grasses

Early signs of target wildflower species coming through in March after autumn sowing into old wild bird cover (stale seedbed)

Sometimes tractors can't get to where you need them - mower being used to top off excess grass growth to promote growth of target flower species

Autumn-sown bumblebird mix (AB16) in March after post-harvest autumn sowing into productive arable ground

Autumn-sown bumblebird in March after sowing - looking ropey but target species are coming through

Autumn-sown bumblebird mix in May after sowing - purple flowers are phacelia, earliest flowering species in the mix

My dad, Geoff Phipps, admiring the spring flower and pollinator crop in autumn-sown bumblebird mix in May

Autumn-sown bumblebird mix in May

Autumn-sown bumblebird mix in May

White-tailed bumblebee on phacelia

Tree bumblebee on phacelia

Phacelia, vetch, triticale, barley in bumblebird mix in May

Crimson clover, phacelia, barley, triticale in bumblebird mix