To mow or not to mow… why are some areas of Horfield Common left uncut?

We know mowing can be a bit of a talking point! Some people love the look of neatly cut grass, while others prefer to see longer, wilder areas full of grasses, wildflowers and insects, intermingled with plenty of hedges and trees. So, working with Bristol City Council, Friends of Horfield Common has been trialling a mowing plan that gives space for it all.

​The main areas of the Common will be mown regularly for recreational purposes, while the margins, corners and in areas that are not regularly used, grass will be left to grow longer to help birds, invertebrates and small mammals.

Different areas are being managed on different cutting regimes – some are cut once a year and others on alternating years or every few years. By doing this we are promoting different floral habitats, which in turn cater for a different set of wildlife; each broadening the scope of Horfield Common's overall biodiversity. These areas link with our ponds and spinneys (thickets of trees and shrubby undergrowth), together ensuring that we encourage as much biodiversity as possible.

By taking this holistic approach and integrating these patches into the overall look of the Common, we are gradually creating a mosaic of habitats that, although they might look untidy to some, are full of life and make a massive difference for wildlife.

How does the mowing regime work?

The creation of these meadow areas is an exciting, fascinating, and in the long run, very rewarding process. The creation of a proper meadow is down to long-term management, observation and patience. The initial stage is to leave areas uncut for a period which allows us to see what already exists - it's often surprising to find how much naturally appears. This is an important and interesting process as it tells us far more about the land than when it is just kept as short grass.

Invertebrate life very quickly moves in. Grasshoppers, spiders, moths, butterflies, crane flies, tiny parasitic wasps, you name it! Ant hills emerge, which is a great sign, as ants are essential in the overall health of meadows; they disperse seeds by bringing them back to the nest where the loose, sun-warmed soil is perfect for germination.

At the end of the summer, some areas of long grass are cut and the clippings removed. Other areas are left long to sustain the overwintering stages of next year's invertebrates such as butterfly and moth larvae. Although this looks destructive, it is an important stage in improving biodiversity as the process opens up the ground, letting in light and exposing bare patches for new plants to naturally colonise. It also reduces nutrient levels over time so that more dominant species are kept in check and do not outcompete the more sensitive plants.

The disturbance awakens seeds that are already present in the soil. These may have been lying dormant for a very long time. The seeds of many species can survive for decades, sometimes even centuries! By awakening these tiny biological time capsules, we can bring back plants that may no longer be present on the surface! In the last couple of years we have already seen great improvements; particularly with a visible increase in the number of invertebrates, including a number of rare species.

This year we were excited to discover a very rare plant on the Common – the Strawberry Clover. This is one that was known to have historically occurred on Horfield Common thanks to its mention in a list produced in 1835 by locally famous botanist Henry Oxley Stephens, who also discovered the Bristol Onion in the Avon Gorge… and every year it will just get better and better!

For further reading on the meadow management aspects of biodiversity on Horfield Common, see Wild Bristol's write up: Horfield Common Wildlife Management Plan

And watch this space for information on some of the other important methods for increasing biodiversity on Horfield Common - AKA ponds and trees!

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