Bringing meadows back to Kedleston parkland
Within the Kedleston parkland we have been implementing careful meadow management.
Two experimental wildflower plots have been set up in the North park along the Wilderness Walk (just beyond Hay Wood.)
The first plot had two treatments: the Hay Wood side was spread with green hay from a local wildflower meadow while the further side had a commercial wildflower seed mix applied. Both areas have developed a good range of wildflowers with a yellow patch of birds foot trefoil as well shorter grasses and oxeye daisies. Birds foot trefoil is the food plant of the common blue butterfly so we hope some will soon arrive! Wild carrot is also in the mix and there are several spikes of the blue viper’s bugloss.
The second plot (further towards North Lodge and by the long side of Bracken Wood) was sown with a different commercial mix of mostly annual cornfield plants such as cornflower, corncockle and scentless mayweed. This area is far better than the grazed parkland outside though it will need further treatment .