Wildflower Meadow Revisited - 10 Years On - Part 1

Wildflower Meadow Revisited - 10 Years On - Part 1 - Potato Field to Meadow

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3 жыл бұрын

Gardening For Wildlife - In this video, I revisit a wildflower meadow that we created 10 years ago to see how much wildlife has turned up. The results are quite amazing...
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Пікірлер: 77

@theurbanghost 3 жыл бұрын

This is so impressive and great to see. Removing all that top soil couldn't have been easy even with machinery.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊 It took some doing but is so worth it now to look back on 👍

@jwright4222 3 жыл бұрын

You look chuffed with yourself, and so you should be! Great work 👌🏻

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you :) It didn't take a whole 10 years to establish of course but 10 years seemed like a good anniversary and opportunity to take a video of it - I'm now on over 10 acres of meadow created, from small gardens to larger sites and I guess I am pretty chuffed ;) Really appreciate your support - best wishes, Joel

@markosullivan6444 2 жыл бұрын

"The results are quite amazing..." Yep, agree 100%! An incredible difference. I'm still to see my first small blue...

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry I missed this Mark. Thanks for commenting. Hope you're well and looking forward to the new butterfly season! Best wishes, Joel

@markosullivan6444 2 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I am REALLY looking forward to the new butterfly season, Joel. And more of your videos.

@klcpca 3 жыл бұрын

LOVE IT!! So wish I had the land to do something like this... would be heaven on Earth!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Me too, me too! I do appreciate that I am lucky to be working in environments like this, but I hanker after a large area of my own to be able to sit in whenever I like (or work allows!) - remember you can fit lots of wildflowers into borders with other perennial species, they really do make a glorious display :) Best wishes, Joel

@SevenEllen 3 жыл бұрын

You're a hero! :D This is EXACTLY what we need everywhere to promote biodiversity and up the wild bee population. ^_^

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much - that means a lot :) Only a few days ago I reached the sum of 10 acres of wildflower meadows created, I am so pleased more and more people are thinking of nature when gardening - best wishes to you - Joel

@UkAmphibians 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant this 🐸💚🐸

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you :) Looking forward to end of September! ;) Best wishes - Joel

@Domini_k 2 жыл бұрын

Goes to show not everything has to be short and tidy? A lasting legacy, you can watch mature, well done.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a positive comment, it really does make a difference :) Best wishes to you and yours - Joel

@frankie5659 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful.

@Erica-bh6ss 2 жыл бұрын

good job

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Erica - appreciated :)

@453421abcdefg12345 3 жыл бұрын

It is so satisfying to see this transformation taking place, and if some areas are kept shorter there are even more species like Horseshoe Vetch and Birdsfoot Trefoil that get a foothold, that also increases the butterfly species in the same area, also if you are lucky many species of Orchid, depending where you live. Stay safe! Chris B.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris. The butterfly species on this site have trebled since its formation. There are now 30 recorded species, including grizzled and dingy skipper, green hairstreak, marbled white and the only known colony of small blue in Lincolnshire. Some areas are kept mown and the orchids have rocketed, with over 500 bee orchid each year, common spotted and pyramidal 😊👍

@453421abcdefg12345 3 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton That shows that this is now a stable and healthy environment, the Orchid seed, as you know, can lay dormant for many years, and since I have been doing the same as you for 12 years now it is surprising that species are appearing that must have been there in history, but never given the correct environment to thrive, it is of course a very labour intensive environment to keep just right, but removing the top soil is a good start on these projects, it does at least give the less robust species a chance to gain a foothold.

@Beautydev23 Жыл бұрын

So beautiful

@dreamer_4937 3 жыл бұрын

This is so fantastic! Absolutely love this. If I had the land I’d do exactly the same! What a privilege. Maybe one day! 😁 Congratulations and thank you! 🎉

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the lovely comment Edward. I can only say, me too! 😂

@introtwerp 3 жыл бұрын

You can on small scale

@ianinskeep3822 Жыл бұрын

So well thought out to be a diverse ecosystem

@MrGerrards23 Жыл бұрын

If only the uk really was green and pleasant like it used to be when all areas were like this great to see

@artinpoetsoulnature 3 жыл бұрын

It's amazing video! Big Thanks 🌷

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

@@artinpoetsoulnature Thank you for the support - it means a lot and I appreciate you taking the time :) Calcutta... one day I hope to visit! Best wishes, Joel

@starflash08 Жыл бұрын

you are a legend, driven by nature

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Жыл бұрын

Thank you, so very much - what a lovely thing to read on a Monday morning, I really appreciate your encouragement and support, it does make a difference. Welcome to the channel, best wishes - Joel

@katepritchard1515 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful well done

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! 😊 really appreciate your support and kind words - best wishes, Joel

@celmargarcia1910 Жыл бұрын

I was so inspired, I wanted to do the same to some of the vacant lots in our village

@EasyHikes4810 3 жыл бұрын

This is what I eventually would like to achieve with my meadow project. Thank you, Joel, for showing us how to recreate a living meadow teaming with life. Awesome!💕👌

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Hi - thanks SO much! I received your email, want to take time to answer it - away from home and back in Yorkshire again this week but I'll get to it :) Take care both of you, Joel

@EasyHikes4810 3 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank you, Joel. No worries about the email as I was not expecting an answer for a while especially with the Festive Season upon us. Have a safe & Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021. Take care. Laurie & Karen 🎄💑

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

@@EasyHikes4810 you too guys. Take care 😊👍

@Sa-fd7ih 2 жыл бұрын

So inspiring! Would love to see more before and after videos like this ❤️

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much - so sorry for the delay in responding but workload at this time of year means working 6 days a week and leaving only Sundays for YT and catching up with everyone - but I'm so very grateful for your encouragement and support. Best wishes, Joel

@jackfrance4560 2 жыл бұрын

brilliant :)

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Jack. Many more projects to come on the channel that are similar 😊

@PatriciasPrimerJardin 2 жыл бұрын

Que bonito 😍💚

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

¡Muchas gracias Patricia, espero que estés disfrutando el fin de semana! Los mejores deseos - Joel

@unbreakableldorado7723 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely great! To anyone reading this, please consider to do the same if you have the space and ressources, it massively helps to sustain biodiversity :)

@marjorielee8998 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely beautiful 👍🏻 I have a stretch of wildflower meadow in the backwoods ( after clearing and preparation a few years). Sown early December 2021 before the freeze and it was a success in spring through early summer. Now there are tall Japanese stilt grass and pink knotweed mostly. I hand pulling a few times a week. Should I mow them down weeds and flowers ? And put more seeds later in the year? Or just let it be?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Marjorie - sorry for the delay, just back from a week in Scotland. I would pull the biggest ones that you don't want, mow and collect the cuttings in September, then give it a hard raking off and over-sow with fresh wildflowers before October so they can get a hold and establish before Spring :) Hope that is helpful to you, best wishes - Joel

@miriam6782 2 жыл бұрын

What are the names of the purple flowers?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Miriam. I believe the two that you would have seen will be lesser and greater knapweed. I hope that helps 😊 Thank you for commenting

@varun76890 10 ай бұрын

Very nice!

@ashleydawson2736 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! I have a few wildflower patches and strips integrated into the lawn around the house. This is my third year and up until now I have only ever done a late summer cut. Should I be doing more? Some species are seeming to dominate patches.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

That's SO good to hear Ashley! I am quite overwhelmed at the amount of people now willing to garden in this way, and it sounds like you have had this ethos for a good while - I bet the rewards are worth it come Spring and Summer every year. I only ever meadow-cut in late September time when the last blooms have provided benefit to the insects etc - do you know which species seem to be thriving more than others? If you want to reduce the vigor somewhat you can mow and collect the cuttings until the end of May to reduce the vigor of the meadow or certain species. Let me know and I'll do my utmost to help - best wishes to you and thanks so much for the support, it's appreciated :)

@ashleydawson2736 3 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton the three species that are taking over are pirri-pirri-bur, yarrow and ripwort plantain. They aren't the nicest looking either. Would you advise a good cut in spring then? I have just started prepping a shaded area down the side of the house. In the spring I plan to incorporate lots of freshly chopped logs and wood which have come from a managed semi ancient woodland with a uk shade seed mix. Any tips or watch outs?

@anemone104 2 жыл бұрын

Nice! Did the small blues get there under their own steam? If they did, there may well be another 'mother' population somewhere close by as they tend not to travel far unless blown....

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you - after ensuring that every part of the habitat they required for their life-cycle was established, a very small number were translocated from a nearby population and they have thrived for over 5 years now without any other intervention aside from the yearly maintenance of course. All other species found their own way there but, as you say, the small blues are pretty sedentary. We're just so thrilled that the site now supports 30 species and was worth every ounce of effort and shows what can be achieved with appropriate planning and management :) Welcome to the channel and thanks for being part of this community - best wishes, Joel

@EdurtreG 2 жыл бұрын

Can you name the bushes (tussacary ..?) in writing Joel?

@jackm3423 2 жыл бұрын

Why do you need to remove the topsoil, may I ask?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Jack - usually the soil is very fertile and encourages plants such as dock, thistles and nettles so rotovating and seeding will only create a nice tilth for these species to germinate and overpower the freshly germinating wildflowers - hope this helps, Joel

@jackm3423 2 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton That makes sense, thanks!

@gardeninside1367 3 жыл бұрын

😊😊😍😍🥰✌️✌️✌️🎉🎉

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

😁👍 Thank you

@gardeninside1367 3 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton welcome 😊

@scrumpymanjack 2 жыл бұрын

I know this is a peripheral question but isn’t that A LOT bigger than an acre?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Hi there Jack :) It looks bigger doesn't it, but the meadow and with the surrounding hedging etc it is circa 1 acre - that was the size indicated when the client purchased the potato field - it certainly packs a lot in. Best wishes - Joel

@oolala114 3 жыл бұрын

How much did it cost to transform?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

When the machinery hire, the 10 years tending and all the plants are taken into account, quite a bit! But this was also a project that involved a lot of love and "free" work as it was a much needed habitat in the area - if you wanted a meadow or advice and are in the UK then please do contact me - the email etc are on the "about" page of the channel :) Best wishes, Joel

@noga8974 2 жыл бұрын

Any problems with rodents?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 2 жыл бұрын

Hi. None whatsoever. They do of course support mice/voles but in moderation 😊👍

@fitnikki434 3 жыл бұрын

Did he say peacock??? Like as in peacocks just roam free there?! 😮😂

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

These peacocks aren't as noisy ;) But they are as beautiful :) Best wishes, Joel

@Lauraphoid 3 жыл бұрын

You can keep peahen just like chickens.

@matbroomfield 3 жыл бұрын

I LOVE meadow, but the time, money and effort to achieve this - to say nothing of the cost of land doesn't really make it very practical does it?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton 3 жыл бұрын

Not everyone can have acres of land Mat, I wish I did too but this is just as easy to do in a garden setting with all the plants, whether that be a mini-meadow (just as effective) or planted in borders - it all makes a difference to the wildlife :) Best wishes, Joel

@matbroomfield 3 жыл бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Yes, I was thinking about this video again yesterday Joel and contemplating whether an area of wild grassland at the end of the garden would spread and annoy the neighbours. Even in a small town garden my mum used to have a buddlea bush for the butterflies and they loved it.