MG4 Lowland Floodplain Meadow Oxfordshire | BWS26
| Our Lowland Floodplain Meadow mix is sourced from Chimney Meadows, a Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) nature reserve. Established in 2000 using green hay from the on-site SSSI, this meadow has flourished over time into a botanically rich, species-diverse grassland. Managed as a traditional grazing meadow, it showcases the success of careful restoration and long-term stewardship in recreating the character and biodiversity of classic lowland floodplain habitats |
Price range: £47.40 through £94.80
- Origin: Brampton, Oxfordshire
- Soil Type: Loam rich with naturally high groundwater
- Establishment History: 2000 – Arable Reversion
Specification for 2025 harvested stock
Flora
| Glaucous Sedge | 11.0% |
| Meadow Buttercup | 6.7% |
| White Clover | 6.4% |
| Common Birdsfoot Trefoil | 5.1% |
| Common Knapweed | 3.3% |
| Ribwort Plantain | 1.3% |
| Black Medic | 1.1% |
| Red Clover | 0.9% |
| Oxeye Daisy | 0.3% |
| Autumn Hawkbit | 0.3% |
| Self Heal | 0.3% |
| Cowslip | 0.2% |
| Rough Hawkbit | 0.2% |
| Pepper Saxifrage | 0.1% |
| Sow Thistle | 0.01% |
Grass
| Crested Dogstail | 11.2% |
| Fine Fescue | 11.2% |
| Bent Grass | 10.2% |
| Meadow Fescue | 9.1% |
| Meadow Grass | 3.6% |
| Cocksfoot | 3.2% |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 3.0% |
| Yorkshire Fog | 2.6% |
| Quaking Grass | 1.1% |
| Tufted Hairgrass | 0.9% |
| Sweet Vernal Grass | 0.2% |
| Tall Fescue | 0.1% |
| Soft Brome | 0.0% |
Inert Matter (chaff, immature seeds, plant material) 6.4%
| Sowing method
1. Cultivate the area 2. Spray off weeds which flush or alternatively a light cultivation will reduce vigour of weeds Repeat as required to create weed free bed 3. Mix seed well in a bag before sowing, dry sand can be added to aid drilling 4. Ideally broadcast seed or drill at shallow depth 5. Roll to improve seed-to-soil contact Once you have sown the mixture, it is very important to manage the growth for the first year. This includes cutting and weeding if possible. If sowing in the autumn, cut the sward when the grass gets established and keep it down to help the flower seeds to germinate. If sowing in the spring, again keep the grass low for the first growing season. When to sow While sowing can occur at either timing, generally speaking, the preferred sowing window is the Autumn as this mirrors nature more accurately. Most perennial wildflowers require vernalisation, a prolonged period of cold, to break dormancy and achieve germination. The winter months after Autumn sowing aids this process. In addition, there is a lower weed burden. Spring sowing success is reliant on the weather, a cold spring will slow growth and therefore reduce resilience against weeds. However, if warm with moderate rainfall, similar results can be seen as to autumn sowing. Key to remember: When sowing wildflowers, the key thing to remember is the cleaner the seed bed the better the success. Wildflowers are often less vigorous than weed species and will struggle to compete against them. When it comes to fertility, typically speaking wildflower prefer low fertility areas as there is less competition from weeds. However, this does not mean you cannot sow on higher fertility areas, simply more management may be required to control growth and weed ingress. |
