I know two entomologists who point out that the mowing regime makes wildlflower meadows a death trap for 'seed head' insect species and also in my own specialism of reptile and amphibians any area that is mowed, even annually, is again only likely to harbour animals up to the point where they are mowed along with the meadow. We can assume small mammals would face the same fate.
Yes useful for butterflies and bees but the management of a wildflower meadow is mostly contrived to keep a wide variety of plant species growing at a given site, rather than for its long-term benefit to a wide range of wildlife.
That is why I see them as low value to wildlife (because in actual fact they are) and prefer to target wildflowers of less diversity but known to be particularly beneficial to a wider range of species. No mowing involved either.
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Great pictures GemmaJF. Where did you get your barley straw balls from please?
I bought them on Amazon, but try the local GC first if it has a pond section. After I got mine from Amazon I found larger and cheaper locally.
Did Monty really start his section on a wildlife friendly garden by digging out all the nettles? Poor Butterflies..
Thanks for that Martin.
I know two entomologists who point out that the mowing regime makes wildlflower meadows a death trap for 'seed head' insect species and also in my own specialism of reptile and amphibians any area that is mowed, even annually, is again only likely to harbour animals up to the point where they are mowed along with the meadow. We can assume small mammals would face the same fate.
Yes useful for butterflies and bees but the management of a wildflower meadow is mostly contrived to keep a wide variety of plant species growing at a given site, rather than for its long-term benefit to a wide range of wildlife.
That is why I see them as low value to wildlife (because in actual fact they are) and prefer to target wildflowers of less diversity but known to be particularly beneficial to a wider range of species. No mowing involved either.
You can get barley straw for not very much at all from pet shops. I assume it's the same as what's in the bundles.