Sue Huggett, Bumpy Volunteer Group
If you have recently visited The Bumpy, next to St Peter’s church in Littlebury Green, you will have noticed a strange, leaf-shaped area marked out on the meadow not far from the entrance. What on earth has the Bumpy Volunteer Group (BVG) been up to?
Following several failed attempts to create a wildflower meadow from seed, and having secured a very welcome Ward Members’ Initiative Grant from Councillors Gregory and Pavitt, the BVG decided to invest in 150 British-sourced wildflower plug plants. In order to give these tiny plantlets a good chance of survival, the grass was mown very short and patches of turf removed to create little pockets of bare soil. This was watered and loosened prior to planting to create optimum conditions for establishment. Rather than dotting the plants across the whole meadow, they were contained to the restricted, leaf-shaped area so that protection and aftercare could more easily take place. A Muntjac smorgasbord was not what we intended to create! The chosen plants are native perennials, so if careful tending through this first summer can get them established, we should have some beautiful wildflowers amongst the grasses for many years to come.
Some additional damp-loving plants were also purchased and have been planted in the boggy area in the far corner of the reserve. With a little luck, Ragged Robin and Water Mint will soon add further interest to this area.
In other Bumpy news, the first rabbit has been seen in the reserve, bringing the number of mammal species up to twelve, whilst mating badgers were recorded by the trail camera back in February. We are hopeful that young will have been born in the safety of the setts during April and that they will make their first appearances above ground in May/June. We will keep the cameras rolling! Meanwhile, with the little remaining funding, three new bat boxes have been acquired and positioned on two of the mature Ash tree trunks to provide extra summer roosting sites for the local Pipistrelles.
The BVG plan to hold an Open Day at The Bumpy on Sunday, 29th June, so why not drop by to chat with members over a cup of tea or coffee and a delicious home-made cake, and catch up with the latest news?
We’d love to see you.