An update from Simon Beard at our Shapwick Reserve in the South West. After years of trying the reserve has successfully grown Yellow Rattle which is currently in flower!
Simon updates us with the good news:
‘Last year volunteers collected seeds of Yellow Rattle plants from our neighbour's fields at Shapwick Heath National Nature reserve. These were sown in prepared beds in several of our ungrazed fields.
This plant species is semi-parasitic on several grass species and reduces the vigour of grass growth encouraging the return of more diverse flower-rich meadows. Sadly Yellow Rattle can be difficult to establish and we have tried several techniques over the years including green hay and direct planting, all of which have failed. However this year, the seeds have germinated in our prepared areas and have now started flowering. Hopefully, these will increase in number in the coming years.’
