What is the purpose of the Mill Field?

Thu 18 May 2023, 15:52

I was under the impression it was being managed - or a good part of it is - as a traditional hay meadow? Here there are lots of species of plants that are adapted in their timing of growth, flowering, setting of seed etc to the patterns of allowing long growth, cutting and making hay, then allowing successor species of plants and creepy crawlies to flourish for their turn in their particular "niche". Its not simply cutting the lawn. Any patch of land left unattended hereabouts ends up as an Oak and Ash forest if unmolested long enough*.

*Kill all grey squirrels on sight - they make a tasty stew...

Thu 18 May 2023, 07:40

If what Liz is saying were correct I might not feel so upset. But actually the whole lot has been cut, all the way to the bridge. Including the areas where wild seeds were introduced last yeare to encourage them to get established. 

Thu 18 May 2023, 07:13

The purpose of the Mill field is a flood plain for the River Evenlode, anything else is ancillary.

Wed 17 May 2023, 20:23

It's only the top end of the Mill Field that has been cut - near Mill Lane.  The rest remains long and luscious.

Wed 17 May 2023, 14:24

There is a management plan for the Mill Field which tries to balance biodiversity with function, not least for the Riverside Festival.  It treats the Field as four separate areas, one of which is used more as a recreation area.  The Plan was agreed in 2018 and it should be on the Town Council website - I've just asked for it to be uploaded.

Reports to the Town Council highlight some of the ways in which that plan has evolved.  The Town Council is trying to reduce the amount of grass cutting to that which is absolutely necessary, because it's better for nature and costs less money.

Wed 17 May 2023, 10:51

What a joy it was earlier this week to walk through the extravagance of tall wild grasses in the Mill Field. Wild flowers in clumps, and also individually, were also there, making the field not only joyful for us but also habitable for wildlife, insects, and birds. But now, it has all been cut and it is gone. Are we trying to get the field to look like a municipal park, or what? Thankfully, an abundance of buttercups are still to delight us in fields over the bridge (If you go there, expect and do not mind wading through mud at the hedge gate!).