The re-alignment of the Stibbard-Ryburgh road junction with the A1067 cut off a small corner of a field making it unviable for cultivation, but happily created the possibility of making a small meadow habitat area enclosed by species-rich hedges. With permission from Sennowe Estate who own this land, Ryburgh Wildlife Group started managing this field for habitat restoration in 2019.
This small field is approximately an acre in size and is enclosed by valuable mixed species hedges laden with blossom and fruit. In recent years Lesser White-throats, Dunnocks, Bullfinches, and a range of other species have been regularly heard here.
The field was formerly arable and regularly managed by herbicide treatment, but has now slowly been colonised by a range of grasses and very interesting native annuals, such as centaury, hop trefoil, common ramping-fumitory, cat-mint, and smooth tare, hairy tare, smooth cat‘s-ear, and small-flowered crane’s-bill. Bee orchids have also appeared, sometimes in large numbers! Many of these native annuals are becoming increasingly rare but provide quantities of seeds that form an important part of the diet of wild birds.
Our work parties have included volunteers from Stibbard (the land actually lies in their parish!) and we have undertaken hay mowing to form habitat grass piles, some limited planting of native meadow species plug plants, and seeding of yellow rattle. Yellow rattle is a native annual that is semi-parasitic on various species including grasses, and used to help suppress vigorous grasses to allow space for wild flowers.
The field is not accessible to the public but can be enjoyed by following the permissive field edge path from Ryburgh bridge up the hill to towards Stibbard, then looking over the filed gate opposite Willow Print.
Please do join our work parties and then you can come in and take a closer look. We would also welcome any bird records for this site.