Plantlife and our local meadow

I get the Plantlife news letter every month and this is an extract from the latest copy.I recommend it. Here is their web site:     http://www.plantlife.org.uk **********************************************************************************************

Welcome to our September e-news Road verge campaign Great news! Over 15,000 people have now signed to support better verge management for nature! If you haven't already, please sign our road verge petition today.

Also in the newsletter they highlight wildflower gardens .

Wildflower gardens can be unkempt and a bit scruffy, right? Well, they don’t have to be. There’s a place for wild flowers in modern contemporary gardens, too.

If you prefer a clean-cut, well-designed and contemporary garden, native plants can be used to great effect in providing both the structure and the ever-changing palette of colour. In fact, many are already tried-and-tested stalwarts of the designer's repertoire, while others can be put to great effect if you’re willing to be a bit more adventurous...

Click here to read this full feature by Plantlife's botanical specialist,  Dr Trevor Dines.

In another item they highlight a flower we have in our local meadow  and here is my photo taken earlier in June in 2014 and just starting to flower

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Out and about

Watch out for...

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)

This spiky, yellow plant grows in single stems to 60cm in size. The small yellow petals reveal themselves in stages from the bottom upwards and the leaves have jagged edges with whitish undersides. 

Agrimony is widespread except for in Scotland where it can only be found in some southern parts. It can also be found on hedge banks, road verges and in other grassy places. 

Some people use agrimony to represent thankfulness.

Draft Parish Plan . Instalment 2

This instalment shows the next three topics covered. I should point out that an editorial group will be pulling the whole document together so my contribution may get modified!

But first a couple of photos from our local meadow. A Bee Orchid ( Ophrys apifera ) and then the tiny lovely Grass Vetchling ( Lathyrus nisolia)  in front of the large clock formed by the pappuses of a Goatsbeard ( Trapopogon pretensis).

Biodiversity.

The Parish has a great opportunity to protect and improve biodiversity by appropriate management of Eastfield in line with SSDC and SCC policy. For example by creating a Community Orchard in a meadow already rich in wild Pyramidal and Bee Orchids and many other plants, insects and small mammals.

To raise awareness of its importance for the future of the Parish it's critical that people are involved in investigating and recording the biodiversity currently within the parish.

Records of sighting of all forms of wildlife should be collated via the record centre at the SWT. See annex for more information.

Footpaths.

It's possible to explore most parts of the parish by footpath.

A map on the website or a paper copy with footpaths, wildlife notes, viewpoints, etc. should be produced.

Countryside.

It seems clear that there is a need for contact between local farmers and the village community to establish a better understanding of sometimes conflicting interests, Some kind of contact group should be set up.

Full On Sport - Events

You will no doubt be pleased to know that the event took place in good weather and was a great success.

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Full On Sport - Events Click on the link for details.

The link with nature is a bit stretched with this one. Despite running round lovely country lanes with wild flowers, dragonflies and lots more to stop and have a closer look at, if you do it wont give you a PB! If your like me and you like to stop and look then you would be better off doing the 2.5km Fun Run! I'll be marshalling!!

ONLINE ENTRIES NOW CLOSED 

Limited day entries available

Once again the organisers of the Battle of Sedgemoor 10k Race look forward to welcoming everyone to our annual events.

The 10k Road Race will be a mainly flat but potentially fast race around the villages of Drayton and Muchelney and back to Langport, passing through some extremely scenic rural countryside.

The course is a measured 10,000 metres marked in Km. for pace judgement with one drinks station at about 6Km, and a sponge station at about 4Km. Course

records:

Male 29.41 Nick Comerford (Cardiff) 2000

Female 34.26 Vicky Pincombe (Bideford) 2001

There will be Prizes and Trophies in all categories including teams.

Whatever category you enter under, we are sure there will be something for you.

As always the course will be well marked and marshalled. 

The Start and Finish will be at the Langport Arms Hotel, as will the prize giving, as soon as possible after the event. Free public parking is available next to the Langport Arms and changing facilities will be in the Hotel. Please be aware if you park in the public car park at the race start there will be no exit until after the

race completes. 

Alternative parking will be displayed on race day.

Bar snacks, teas and coffees will be available from 10.30a.m.