Wildflower abundance for Bere Marsh next spring and summer

We’re blooming excited at Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset as we’ve started work to add more native wildflowers and meadow grasses to enhance our floodplain fields for biodiversity. 

Our CRT conservation team with our volunteers will be reseeding parts of Mill Mead with brush-harvested seed from floodplain meadows managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to create species-rich floodplain meadows.  

The plan is to increase coverage over the rest of the floodplain fields at Bere Marsh in future years (a total of 13.5ha). 

Native wildflower seeds need contact with bare soil to germinate, so machinery is used to scratch the top surface of vegetation away to create perfect conditions for sowing. 

So, while it may not look much at first, keep an eye out in the spring and summer next year for a boost in wildflower abundance on these fields, providing pollen and nectar for a range of pollinators. 

The CRT hopes to create a flower-rich meadow, like these two pictured above.

Our Head of Conservation and Land Management Helena Darragh explained why the project is so important.

“Species-rich floodplain meadow habitat in Britain has dramatically declined due to agricultural intensification, urban and industrial development of these flat, low-lying and fertile areas, as well as alterations to their hydrology through changes to river systems,” she says.

“Due to their proximity to watercourses, species-rich floodplain meadows were once the most productive fields on farms, receiving their nutrients each year through highly fertile silt deposited on the land during flood events. This special value has decreased with fertiliser now used more widely across farm holdings and high yielding grasses selected to grow hay or silage adding to the overall loss of this biodiverse habitat.”

What does a floodplain meadow look like?

Floodplain meadows are characterised by diverse herb-rich swards, and feature the iconic great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) plant with its crinkle-cut leaves, producing beautiful burgundy seed heads in summer.  

Other wildflowers include: common sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis).  

“These magnificent lowland habitats contribute to nature-friendly farm practices through providing a valuable nutritious source of food for livestock,” adds Helena.

“A hay cut is taken in summer, followed by the grazing of regrowth in autumn, until it becomes too wet for livestock to be on the field. During the winter and even into the spring months, floodplain meadows are often inundated with floodwater, providing nesting and feeding habitat for a huge array of birdlife. As the ground becomes drier, livestock can be let on to graze the early grass growth, before being shut out to allow wildflowers to come through and produce a herb-rich hay crop, and so the cycle comes full circle.”

Across our CRT properties, we are committed to enhancing our farmed environment for biodiversity through conservation projects which restore natural habitat as part of our nature-friendly farm practices.  

Over the coming years at Bere Marsh Farm, we will be working to restore the botanical diversity of our floodplain meadows, adding locally sourced native wildflower seed to the existing grassland. 

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our Wildflower Appeal last Christmas as we have been able to use these donations to purchase suitable seed from local sites and kickstart this process.

Helena added: “Not only is this great news for birds, mammals, pollinators and other invertebrates, but diverse swards in floodplains help to sequester carbon deep into the soil, and improve soil moisture retention since having lots of different plants means a range of rooting depths and systems, all working to pull carbon and water down into the soil to support growth. 

“With the UK now subject to more short, sharp downpours in winter months (and throughout the year) ensuring our floodplains function more effectively by storing water helps to alleviate flooding downstream and reduce soil erosion, providing benefits to local communities.”

We’re really looking forward to seeing our meadows flourish, providing for more  pollinators and having positive ramifications all the way up the food chain.

How you can help

We can’t do it without you. If you want to help us protect local habitats, such as wildflower meadows, you can support the CRT in any number of ways, from joining as a CRT Friend to volunteering on one of our farms and attending our events. You can also sign-up to our monthly newsletter 'CRT News' for regular updates from our farms, straight to your inbox.