Wildlife farming

[snoopy]

The huge field which adjoins our place is owned by a farmer who has always shown great concern in environmental issues.

Mostly in the past he has planted spuds, maize, rapeseed etc. But last year and this, he has left part of the field to develop as a wildlife habitat. At the moment it’s a sea of blue, filled with a plant which has lilac flowers and a vaguely thistle like appearance. (I don’t know the name of it – maybe someone can identify it).

We believe he is acting under the Environmental Stewardship scheme, a sort of spin-off from the old set-aside idea, so he will get a payment.

But we’re delighted because of the diversity of wildlife it has produced.

It’s ironic, and perhaps sad, that this farm is threatened by the HS2 route.

Anyway, here’s a pic. I’m a lousy photographer so it doesn’t show it at its best, but it might just give an idea.

PS: Just realised that this post is in the wrong categoryh. Meant to put it in environmental issues.   

[CelticSparrow Jan]

 Colin I have moved the thread for you.

What a lovely view from you house,the field must be a wildlife haven,it will be very sad if it is lost for the HS2.

[snoopy]

Thank you Jan

[Eric]

How wonderful to have this haven next door to you, Colin. Great that the farmer has this attitude too.

[Night Owl.]

Fantastic to have a wildlife haven on your doorstep Snoopy it will be awful if it is lost to HS2

[davebutterflyman]

The whole area looks tremendous for a great range of species and i can well imagine those flower heads teeming with insects, which will in turn bring in birds. From here, those flowers remind me of knapweed but i'm not sure whether that is in flower as yet.

If all farmers set aside a similar sized plot it would be interesting to see what species were recorded over a two or three year period.

[snoopy]

Thanks for the identification DaveButterflyman.

I think it is knapweed, but this one is a lilac colour rather than purple. Anyway it's supposed to be good for butterflies and bees. And, obviously, for birds. This is the field where we saw thousands of white butterflies emerging in a great cloud one day.  I think you called it a murmuration. 

[davebutterflyman]

It's rare to see clouds of butterflies these days but just occasionally, you will experience something like that. I am guessing that the field was full of a Brassicaceae type crop prior to it being turned over to set-aside.