Introducing the Woodmeadow Project at Nymans

3 September

August and September

August:

Our new volunteer team has been busy collecting and propagating wildflower seed over the summer, with more seed to be sown out in November. This marks our second year of trials, as we research new ways to create woodland beyond simply planting trees. We’re keen to see how easy it is to establish woodland ground flora species when planted at a similar time to our trees. Without the partnership training from staff at Wakehurst's Millenium Seedbank we wouldn't have been able to achieve what we have this year, so thanks go to them. A second volunteer team has begun helping on the estate by removing trouble dominant species from several fields, carrying out scrub control and undertaking green hay strewing.

September:

While dodging the rain we've cut some fields ahead of seeding in late September. By cutting the fields, soil nutrient levels have been depleted which will benefit the establishment of wildflowers. We’ve finished silage cuts for the year, with the bales to be used by our grazier as winter feed for livestock. In particularly species rich fields, we collect the hay we harvest and spread it on fields that are not as rich in species. This is called 'green haying' with hay spread on poorer species fields carrying seed which will then germinate, slowly increasing the species diversity when repeated yearly.   

 We’ve also had fencing contractors in to install over 4,000m of perimeter stock fencing.  

Work is underway creating high quality habitat for turtle doves, with guidance from RSPB.  We want to contribute to reversing the huge drop in numbers of turtle doves in this country. A good feeding habitat needs a bespoke mix of seed; turtle doves like feeding on up to 60% bare ground and we’re sowing seed across nearly 5 acres of field to give them the habitat they desperately need. The seed mix includes species such as fumitory. clover and chickweed.

 In a number of our fields we've lowered the number of sheep grazing to allow soils to recover. In doing so we've seen an increase in height variation amongst the grasses, which provides good cover to invertebrate species. It has been lovely to see clusters of house martins patrolling the fields in search of a tasty morsel as well as dragonflies which are also hawking up and down the field edges.

30 January 2025

400 new trees planted

A team of over 30 staff and volunteers, including rangers, gardeners, and conservation staff, gathered to plant a diverse mix of native tree species, including oak, beech, blackthorn, field maple, and goat willow.  This is an exciting milestone in the project with a total of 20,000 trees to be planted over the coming months. The mix of tree species was chosen not only for their ecological benefits but also to ensure the long-term health of the woodland area. 

30 July 2024

June and July

June

June brought with it a flush of wildflowers in bloom. In a number of areas, where we are establishing  lowland meadow, we had swathes of yellow rattle with ox-eye daisies, knapweed, common spotted orchids and birdsfoot trefoil all flowering for the first time. Where yellow rattle is widely established we've been able to make sustainable seed harvests that can sown elsewhere.

We've also been collecting woodland wildflower species (consent must be gained from relevant authorities within a designated site) as we trial which method of establishment works best for woodland wildflowers within new woodland areas. With help from volunteers, we've collected primrose, yellow archangel, wood anemone, bluebell and common dog violet so far this year.

We've spotted skylarks nesting in two fields that have been returned to nature. This red listed species has been a welcome addition to the landscape, soaring high in the sky with males singing loudly.

July

July has brought with it a fresh influx of dragonflies including golden ringed, emperor, southern and brown hawkers. Butterfly numbers have increased drastically in the fields that had livestock removed for summer. Hay cuts are planned towards the end of the season. The long grasses and flowering plants have provided good cover and nectar sources. Butterflies, including purple hairstreak, marbled white, gatekeepers and skippers, have all notably increased in numbers.

We’ve had fencing contractors return to the site too, installing new stock fencing in a number of fields ahead of introducing cattle to graze the land later in the year.

Looking ahead

August will see hay cuts being taken, beneficial not only as hay for our grazier but also helping to deplete the soil nutrients for the benefit of wildflowers and grasses. We've been able to look at the results of baseline soil sampling that was conducted in every field included in the project area. Using these results, we’ve selected suitable fields for sowing wildflower seed mixes, collected from the High Wealden landscape, thereby ensuring good local provenance. Seed will be sown in late August.

October 2023 - March 2024

Planting and Introduction of Livestock.

During the winter of 2023/24 we've hit the ground running. We've planted 740m of new species rich hedgerow, including field maple, hawthorn, guelder rose, hornbeam and dog rose. In places we’ve reinstated traditional hedgerow management and re-pollarded oaks. New stock fencing has been installed to protect saplings from nibbling livestock, deer, rabbits and voles. Where we've replanted hedgerows, we've used the leftover brash to reinstate into the hedge line as a dead hedge providing deadwood for invertebrates, cover for small mammals and nesting habitats for birds, all while helping to protect the young trees. Our orchard restorations have taken steps forward with the planting of 32 local variety apple trees. It's been a hugely positive step to reintroduce fruit trees to our landscape. Beneficial as a nectar source to pollinators, it's a valuable habitat too.  

Introducing Cattle.

We've now introduced cattle onto the farmland, an exciting moment and an opportunity to graze the land in a different way. While we have retained sheep in places, the cattle approach grazing in a slightly different way. Sheep tend to keep grass short and pretty uniform and will nibble off the flowering heads of wildflowers preventing them from setting seed. Cattle on the other hand are more of a general grazer and won’t make a beeline for flowering plants. They graze at a lower intensity, allowing longer grasses to form tussocks and maintain more height variation, which is valuable habitat for invertebrates and small mammals.

One positive wildlife change we've already noted in two areas of the site is the return and nesting of skylarks.

August

Summer update

The Woodmeadows project has been in its first summer of establishment, and it has been one of the hottest and driest on record, according to the Met Office. Still, there have been some very encouraging results. We've seen a large increase in biodiversity in our fields, from 2-3 species per square meter prior to the project, to up to 12 now. Some of the fields that were seeded with native seeds (harvested from within the High Weald) now have flowering plants such as: knapweed, ox-eye daisy, marsh willow herb, bird's foot trefoil, common vetch, tufted vetch, hawkbit, ribwort plantain, buttercup, and chickweed.

There was a flush of Common Spotted Orchid in the area around the Arboretum this June. The planned "scrubby edges" of several fields are starting to fill in. These provide important habitat for species, particularly invertebrates such as bees and moths. Much of the 2,577.33m of hedgerows, planted over the winter in their historic alignments, are establishing well. They have been mulched with sheep's wool to retain soil moisture and act as a deer deterrent. We have had skylarks nesting in one field, and continue to work with RSPB's Operation Turtle Dove to create an inviting habitat in hopes that these birds will begin nesting at Nymans. The grazier's herd is up to 24 cows, with a mix of Aberdeen Angus and Sussex cattle. These animals are an integral part of the meadow and pasture management, helping to keep the sward healthy and regenerating. They are always popular when they can be seen from the gardens! There have been challenges as well, with changing conditions especially drying out the steeper slopes, making seed germination difficult. As is common when there is ground disturbance, plants have come up that need to be removed, namely ragwort and thistle. With the help of volunteers we will keep making gains here as the project progresses.