Instead of our scheduled visit to Withymead on 24th July we were summoned to Little Meadow for hay making by the Thames at Goring. Dot from Withymead cut the flower-filled grass with a mechanical mower while we raked the cuttings into builder’s bags and onto large plastic sheets for hauling to heaps at the edge of the field. Regular monitoring at Little Meadow has recorded 8 more flower species there than last year, so volunteer cutting and raking is definitely helping to improve this precious habitat.
It was extremely hot work in the baking sun, but we still found coffee and tea preferable to a cold drink at the break, served from a wheelbarrow under the welcome shade of a tree.
Julia, 19/8/2014
