Chettisham Meadow
 |
An old ‘ridge and furrow’ meadow full of grasses and wild flowers and a spectacular show of orchids. |
This meadow is an historic remnant of neutral grassland that have been managed as a traditional hay meadow for over a century. Ridge and furrow earthworks (remnants of ploughing from the Middle Ages) are still visible, and many different fine grasses are found, including sweet vernal-grass, red fescue, quaking-grass and yellow oat-grass.
Cowslips, with their apricot-scented yellow-orange flowers, are abundant from March to May. A spectacular show of green-winged orchids appears in late April and May. Other plants include bee and common spotted-orchids, ox-eye daisy, adder’s-tongue fern and pepper-saxifrage.
Many butterflies are seen in spring and summer, including orange-tip, holly blue, marbled white, brown argus and small copper. Birds include bullfinch, long-tailed tit, willow warbler, cuckoo and blackcap. Lucky visitors may also catch a glimpse of a barn owl hunting over the grass at dusk. The dense hedges around the meadows provide refuge for small mammals and insects.
Birds: Bullfinch, barn owl, thrushes, buntings and finches |
Plants: Green-winged orchid, cowslip, adder’s-tongue fern Insects: Orange-tip and holly blue butterflies Birds: Blackcap, cuckoo, willow warbler, bullfinch, barn owl |
Plants: Pepper-saxifrage, ox-eye daisy, common spotted-orchid, bee orchid Insects: Butterflies Reptiles: Grass snake Birds: Willow warbler, barn owl |
Birds: Redwing and fieldfare |