MG5 Kelly Hampshire | BWS2
MG5 Kelly Hampshire | BWS2, is a harvested meadow located in Hampshire, established in 2013 as part of an arable reversion project. Since then it has developed into a diverse meadow containing 41 different species including dense patches of Pyramidal Orchids and the soft pastel colours of Small Scabious.
Classified as a MG5 Lowland Meadow within the National Vegetation Classification (NVC). Quadrat surveys indicate 83% of ground cover is flora (29 species), 22% grass (10 species) and 1% orchid (1 species) within this meadow and averages 19 plants per m².
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Price range: £41.32 through £82.65
- Establishment History: 2013 – Arable Reversion
- Origin: Winchester, Hampshire
- Priority Habitat: Lowland Calcareous Grassland
- NVC Code: MG5 Lowland Meadow
- Soil Type: Shallow lime-rich soils over chalk
Specification for 2024 harvested stock
Flora
Wild Carrot |
10.3% |
Black Medic |
7.4% |
Oxeye Daisy |
6.4% |
Ribwort Plantain |
5.1% |
Common Knapweed |
2.2% |
Yellow Rattle |
2.1% |
Meadow Buttercup |
1.7% |
Ladys Bedstraw |
1.3% |
Hoary Plantain |
0.8% |
White Clover |
0.4% |
Cowslip |
0.4% |
Self Heal |
0.4% |
Small Scabious |
0.3% |
Birdsfoot Trefoil |
0.3% |
Red Clover |
0.1% |
Wild Parsnip |
0.1% |
Greater Knapweed |
0.1% |
Grass
Timothy |
15.8% |
Cocksfoot |
7.0% |
Fine Fescue |
2.6% |
Meadow Grass |
1.1% |
Soft Brome |
1.0% |
Quaking Grass |
1.0% |
Yorkshire Fog |
0.7% |
Meadow Fescue |
0.2% |
Perennial Ryegrass |
0.1% |
Tall Oat Grass |
0.1% |
Sterile Brome |
0.03% |
Inert Matter (chaff, immature seeds, plant material) 30.8%
Recommended Sow Rate:
3-5g/m²
500g to cover <100m²
1Kg to cover <200m²
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.
