Right priority one habitat management project done today to save a small population of Field cow wheat Melampyrum arvense , an annual species at its only site in Bedfordshire at Brogborough Lake. I managed to get to the site at 6.45am and got started at 7am (still a bit dark then) and I was surprised to get all the rank vegetation cut and raked off the embankment and level area done by 10am. I did the whole lot on my own. It was raining for most of the time as well but that did not bother me! This is one of 8 habitat management voluntary projects in do on scarce and rare plants in the midlands. This location for Field cow wheat is the most northerly in the UK. The population count this year was 8 but the population still hangs on thanks to my continued help to save the species from extinction here in Bedfordshire. The big problem at this location is the vegetation it grows in which can get lush in some seasons due to a wet season. There is not much open ground comparied to the other UK sites such as Hampshire, Wiltshire and the 3 sites on the Isle of Wight. The vegetation at the Bedfordshire site can swamp out small young plants. But with my cutting and raking off the rank vegetation at this time of year it does create some open bare areas, so there is hope. However today I did notice at ground level a lot more moss which is not helpful for seed germination of Field cow wheat. The current spot where the Field cow wheat grows is not the native population. Seed under licence years ago was translocated from plants on the native site which was the embankments of Brogborough Lake. Sadly due to erosion the native population has now gone. But last year I planted about 100 Field cow wheat seed on the bare eroding embankments of Brogborough Lake as this looked still a great habitat for the species with open bare embankments. Well that idea sort of worked, I had two plants germinate and reach flowering size. The problem also with Field cow wheat the seed is not long lived so open bare ground is vital each year. It cannot be left undisturbed for years at a time. Anyway I will do everything in my power to save this population here at Brogborough from extinction since it is just down the M1 from me! If anyone wants to see this species at this site in 2015 give me a call and I will be happy to let you know if anything is up. I have to do my annual count each year. Pic one site uncut at 7am (waiting to get a bit lighter to start!). Pic two level section and ditchline (left of Pic) cut and ready for raking off. Pic three Rank vegetation all cleared off. Pic four Close up of flowering head of Field cow wheat from Brogborough Lake location Bedfordshire.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:40:14 +0000
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