In the autumn of 2025 with the help of a team of volunteers the Community Orchard and Nature Reserve was reseeded with native wildflower seed harvested from the RSPB reserve at Winterbourne Down. We have waited patiently to see what would emerge on the site and are very grateful to three volunteers, Catherine Sankey, Sarah… Continue reading Community Orchard Grassland Survey – July 2026
Tag: wildflowers
Emerging Results of Reseeding
Last October we reseeded the Community Orchard & Nature Reserve with a wildflower mix harvested from the RSPB reserve at Winterbourne Down. After the ground was prepared by tractor a team of volunteers formed a row and moved across the area casting the seed by hand. We had no idea what might emerge and it… Continue reading Emerging Results of Reseeding
Reseeding Working Party
Over recent weeks there has been a lot of work going on in the Community Orchard & Nature Reserve to create a wildflower rich biodiverse area. During this year the grass has been lush pasture grass which has very few wildflowers, the aim is over time to replace this with a more biodiverse habitat. The… Continue reading Reseeding Working Party
Scything in The Close
This week there has been activity in The Close with two volunteers trained in scything cutting the long grass. Despite the showery weather Sarah and Ian persevered with the task. The area cut will be left for a while to allow seeds to drop and will then be cleared. Areas of Knapweed have been left… Continue reading Scything in The Close
Native Bulb and Wildflower Planting
On a autumnal day at the end of October some trustees and volunteers gathered on The Close to do a bit of tidying up before the onset of the winter. A few weeks earlier most of the long grass was topped with some areas of Knapp Weed left for the birds to feed on the… Continue reading Native Bulb and Wildflower Planting
Wildflowers in The Close
During 2024 local resident Carole Smith has been conducting regular surveys of the wildflowers in The Close. Here are some of her pictures and details of what she has seen. Knapp Weed Common knapweed, also known as ‘black knapweed’, is a thistle-like plant. It flowers from June to September and is a huge favourite of… Continue reading Wildflowers in The Close
Watering The Close
A stroll with 2 watering cans to The Close to wet a couple of rectangles of grass stripped patches, often brings a welcome chat with a fellow Pitton resident or two. We chat wildflowers, experiments in rewilding, biodiversity and naturally the weather. The two stripped patches are an experiment, in which we are crossing fingers… Continue reading Watering The Close