June 2024 News Update.

We have had a very mild and wet winter, one of the top ten since records began followed the warmest and wettest spring on record.  There have been many consequences of this for Shandy’s Brook and other locations.  One example was that the slugs were active much earlier than usual and plants that normally escape their attentions by blooming and finishing before the slugs are about were heavily predated.  Among these were our daffodils.  Normally a splendid display of early colour, they were almost entirely eaten.  Very disappointing for us and our many fans. 

Weather wise, things have not improved as we are now in June with below average temperatures, yet more rain and very little sunshine.  The number of butterflies, bees and other invertebrates is far less than last year and the opportunity for their recovery is dwindling.

Hybrid Ryegrass remains a problem, taking water and light and choking out other smaller plants.  Despite four successive years of autumn yellow rattle sowing, it remains dominant in some, but not all parts of Shandy’s Brook.  The location of the grass has been mapped in order to do a more targeted sowing in the autumn.

However, on a brighter note, many flowers are battling through it and we have an excellent display of foxgloves, oxeye daisy, feverfew, buttercups, birdsfoot trefoil, black medic, common vetch and corn cockle to name just a few.  There are many more coming along in the pipeline, and if the weather improves, high summer will be very colourful.

Despite the setbacks, Shandy’s Brook is admired by locals and users of the public foot/cycle path.