What’s happening in the garden this autumn?

You may have noticed that we have strimmed several patches of the grass in the garden almost back to bare earth. So what’s going on? We’re trying to encourage more wildflower meadow areas, which will not only look beautiful but also attract bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Wildflowers struggle to complete with established grass, so we’ve been preparing the ground to receive a wildflower seed mix.

The seeds we’re planting include yellow rattle, which is known as the ‘meadow maker’, because its roots attach to nearby grass roots and draw the nutrients away. This weakens dominant grass and stops it choking out other plants – leading to greater biodiversity.

We’ve also been investing in the future by planting bulbs: bluebells under the trees in the top corner, wood anemones along the far hedge, and daffodils near the entrance gate. We plan to cut some turf around the cherry tree that was planted for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, and plant some cornfield annuals (cornflowers, poppies, daisies and field marigolds). Thanks to the Community Fund for providing £350 to cover the cost of seeds and bulbs.

All of this needs to be done before the first frost. Jobs that can be done later in the year include building a bug hotel out of pallets, cleaning the bird boxes and raising the water tank so that it’s easier to fill watering cans from it – look out for the winter update to find out how we get on!

The Contemplation Garden is next to St Giles’ Church. It is managed sustainably in harmony with nature by Anne Hamling, Lindsay O’Kelly, Mat Dempsey and Jacqueline Pumphrey. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact anne.hamling21@gmail.com