MG1e Rockley Wiltshire | BWS8
The harvested Rockley meadow was established in 2012 with a 100% calcareous wildflower mix which has seen great improvement as a result of our harvesting. The combining method aids in distributing seed back across the meadow while collecting a proportion to be processed.
The meadow has natural characteristics of MG5 and MG1 communities within the National Vegetation Classification (NVC). It affiliates with MG1e the most due to the consistent presence of False Oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius across the site. Quadrat surveys indicate 48% of ground cover is flora (28 species), 44% moss (2 species), 8% grass (9 species) and 0.02% shrub (2 species) within this meadow and averages 20 species per m².
Out of stock. Please contact office: 01722 744494
- Establishment History: 2012 – Grassland Restoration
- Origin: Marlborough, Wiltshire
- Priority Habitat: Good quality semi-improved grassland
- NVC Code:MG1e Dry Tall-Herb Grassland
- Soil Type: Shallow lime-rich soils over chalk
Specification for 2024 harvested stock
Flora
| Oxeye Daisy | 14.0% |
| Ribwort Plantain | 10.5% |
| Yellow Rattle | 9.5% |
| Common Knapweed | 7.9% |
| Meadow Buttercup | 7.5% |
| Small Scabious | 6.2% |
| Fairy Flax | 5.2% |
| Black Medic | 4.1% |
| Wild Carrot | 3.6% |
| Red Clover | 2.2% |
| Ladys Bedstraw | 0.8% |
| Glaucous Sedge | 0.6% |
| Smooth Hawksbeard | 0.6% |
| Hoary Plantain | 0.6% |
| Self Heal | 0.4% |
| White Clover | 0.2% |
| Field Scabious | 0.1% |
| Greater Knapweed | 0.1% |
| Wild Parsnip | 0.1% |
Grass
| Fine Fescue | 0.8% |
| Yorkshire Fog | 0.7% |
| Cocksfoot | 0.3% |
| Meadow Fescue | 0.2% |
| Hairy Oat Grass | 0.1% |
| Soft Brome | 0.02% |
Inert Matter (chaff, immature seeds, plant material) 22.6%
| 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. |
