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A wet and inclement summer
has so far brought very real challenges to David Cowie and the glebe team,
particularly in terms of keeping the grass under control. Nonetheless, the
glebe is looking very good at the moment, if you ignore the damage to the
horse chestnuts, already becoming evident from the imprecations of the leaf
miner. Strong growth of both grass and weeds has been stimulated by the wet
and warm weather, making the field look particularly green and lush. Anyone
visiting the field in the last two months will have noticed the healthy crop
of stinging nettles – to most of us, a weed, but in the context of the
glebe’s management, an important provider for butterflies which has
contributed to the burgeoning butterfly and moth population which has been
evident this summer. Among the more spectacular species to be seen are red
admiral, tortoiseshell and painted ladies, together with the less common
swallowtail and the beautiful peacock butterfly.
| The glebe is
carefully managed both to provide a useful amenity space for the
community (not to mention a useful source of income for the church), and
for the benefit of local wildlife. The copse between the fields and the
dense undergrowth bounding the fields provide a rich habitat, although
the criticism could be made that relatively narrow borders surrounding
grass fields provides a perfect habitat for members of the crow family.
Consequently we are blessed with a reasonable population of carrion
crows, rooks, jays and magpies, but they bring with them their own
challenges in terms of the potential threat to the nests and next
generation of smaller garden birds. |
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Log piles are maintained and
rotting tree stumps left in place to look after beetles and insects. One
tree stump has even become home to common toads and at least one species of
newt – an unusual place to find this particular amphibian in view of the
lack of water. Glebe resident Tony Galsworthy, an internationally respected
naturalist, has now catalogued nearly 1000 species of butterflies, moths and
other insects. In turn, they become an important link in the food chain. All
these species, however apparently insignificant or unattractive, are an
important part of the ecology of the field and ultimately provide us with
the mammal and bird life which gives so much pleasure. (It often occurs to
me that we should keep this fact in mind as a useful metaphor for life in
general.)
The grass cutting regime, which team now has a welcome and enthusiastic
addition in the form of Robert Lawrence, is planned in such a way as to
enhance the wildlife potential of the field. Most of it is cut on a regular
basis, and the grass cuttings left in place; this mulching encourages
earthworms which in turn provide us with blackbirds, thrushes, pied wagtails
and a variety of other songbirds. (To make the most of this, we should in
theory spread the cuttings evenly with a rake, but life’s too short.) By
contrast, the area of long grass next to Erridge Road is cut only once a
year. The purpose of this area is to create a wildflower meadow and a
combination of naturalisation and careful planting means that the quantity
and variety of blooms increases every season. In order to achieve this, the
grass cuttings need to be cleared after cutting; the aim in so doing is to
starve the soil so that the grass growth does not smother the emergent wild
flowers. As an illustration of how successful this project has been, we have
this year had a huge variety of daisies, convolvulus, larkspur, speedwell,
celandine and even orchids growing in this part of the field.
Even humble “weeds” like dandelions and buttercups have their place. These
and other plants many of us devote hours of heartache to eradicating from
our lawns are a marvellous source of pollen for bees; on a warm summer’s day
in the glebe these flowers and the different species of clover are humming
with life. Bees, of course, are vital for the cross pollination of most of
our plants, which is why their declining numbers, not only in the UK but
internationally, have been such a source of concern among the conservation
community lately.
We do our best to manage the glebe sensitively with the natural world in
mind, and so that it enhances Merton Park’s well earned reputation for green
spaces and as an oasis in one of the biggest urban areas in Europe. The only
blot on the landscape (sometimes, a quite literal blot) is the continuing
need for bonfires, especially during the spring and summer. It is important
to make the point that very little of the material making up the bonfire
pile is generated by the glebe or the churchyard. Most of it comes from a
handful of nearby gardens, and it would be appreciated if those who use it
as a communal tip for their garden rubbish would please desist. Not only
does the constant requirement to light fires detract from our efforts to be
environmentally friendly, it does not do much for our relations with our
neighbours, especially during warm summer afternoons when they want to enjoy
the sun uninterrupted by clouds of smoke from the glebe!
Meanwhile the flora and fauna of the glebe continues to advance. Apart from
the usual range of city garden birds, we have successfully attracted a wide
range of less common species; long tailed tits are now a common sight, and
increasing numbers of song thrushes are making their home there. This year,
we have even had blackcaps nesting there.
The work of maintaining the glebe fields never stops, and soon we will be
looking forward and planning our progress for next
season. All ideas are, of course, welcome. Furthermore, the more people who
get involved on a practical level, the more can be achieved. Come and join
the working party if you can spare some time.
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