Spireview Lawn
Summer Meadow Initiated 2021
The Proposal
Letting a section of grass grow long on the steep bank at Spireview Lawn is intentional. Neatly cut around its perimeter the long grass patch has 3 aims:
Remove the burden to residents of trying to cut the 100sqm steep grass bank with a lawnmower!
Encourage insects and wild birds to make use of the new habitat,
Reduce the fertility of the soil to encourage natural wildflowers to grow.
Our long-term plan for the site might change depending on how it performs over the coming years.
2021
In late September the grass was cut short and cleared of clippings ready for new growth in Spring.
Natural wildflower areas are not instant successes and are unlikely to be in flower throughout the entire year. Over time we should start to see the grasses replaced my more and more wildflowers as they naturally reclaim the bank but we must ensure that unwanted weeds do not take advantage of the site.
Meadow cut, kerb cleared, and lawn edged along the path.
Neat lawn edges achieved very quickly with mechanical aid.
2022
Slowly Does It
12 months resulted in slow grass growth due to the unusually hot and dry summer. The autumn grass that was cut using a scythe still produced a dozen full bags that was taken for composting by Meath County Council. Sourced from Ireland via connectingtonature.ie 110sqm was seeded with yellow rattle nature's lawnmower.
Final Cut
The final section of our Johnstown summer meadows got cut back down to ground level. The grass cuttings will be allowed to compact before being removed for composting.
The Metges Road and Spireview Lawn sites will be seeded with 'nature's lawnmower' yellow rattle that adds both colour to next summer's display and will start reducing the grass.
Meadow Grass
Many thanks to Meath County Council for agreeing to take our collected meadow grass to the recycling centre.
25 brown waste bins worth have now been composted from our meadows.
2023
Our autumn sowing of 'Nature's Lawnmower' flower 'Yellow Rattle' appeared vigorously in May. A semi-parasitic plant it attaches itself to the roots of grasses to reduce its vitality and make space for native wildflowers.
Yellow rattle flowers, May 18th
Yellow rattle flowers, May 18th
2024
May saw the grow long with yellow rattle, clover, and buttercups.
May: Yellow Rattle
May: Buttercups and Red Clover.
July's tall grasses were noticeably less vigorous than in previous years. The yellow rattle dried and self-seeded.
Regular bouquets of ragwort appeared and were popular with bees.
New to the site was a small flowering of Common Malow.
Links
Further Information on summer meadows can be found here https://biodiversityireland.ie/practical-advice-on-managing-wildflower-meadows/
Sustainable Development Goals
This project has connections with the following categories:
