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• Home
  • Services
    • Consultancy and advice
    • Stock collection
    • Seed harvesting
    • Custom mixtures
  • Sowing & Aftercare
    • Ground Preparation
      • Preparation for sowing into bare soil cleared of vegetation
      • Preparation for sowing into gaps created in existing vegetation
    • Sowing
      • Sowing in open ground
      • Sowing under cover
    • Aftercare
      • Management of meadows and grassland
      • Management of wetland and pond margins
      • Management of woodlands and hedgerows
      • Management of cornfield annuals
      • Management of lawns
  • Further Advice
    • Habitat Creation and Enhancement
      • NVC plant communities
    • Landscaping and land restoration
    • Conservation and habitat restoration
    • Farmland and agri-environment
    • Wildlife gardening
    • Site selection and soils
      • Soils and soil fertility
      • Secondary site factors
    • Weed management
      • Weed control in preparation for sowing
      • Weed Control in the aftercare of established sowings
    • Local seed and ecotype choices
      • Wild flower seed origin options
      • Grass seed origin options
    • Using cornfield annuals and other species as nurse cover
      • Cornfield annuals as nurse cover
      • Annual 'westerwolds' ryegrass as temporary nurse cover
    • Using yellow rattle to increase species diversity
    • Adding diversity to grassland and other habitats
    • Green and turf roofs
      • Preparation and construction
      • Green roof sowing and aftercare
    • Bees, butterflies and other wildlife
      • bees
      • butterflies and moths
      • other insects
      • Birds & mammals
    • Biodiversity
    • Scything
• What’s New
  • Advice
    • Sowing deadlines for Spring?
    • Equinox - a time to 'spring clean' meadows
    • Spring has sprung! - when can we start sowing?
    • Autumn sowing deadlines
    • Haytime 2020
    • 70 Yellow rattle sowing days left until Christmas!
    • Spring mowing to reduce grass vigour
    • Autumn mowing to restore balance.
    • Horses, wild flower and herb rich meadows, and buttercups
    • Autumn Sowing Deadlines 2015
    • Spring sowing: timing and deadlines
    • 50 yellow rattle sowing days left until Christmas!
    • Haytime
    • Spring mowing reduces grass vigour
    • Autumn mowing to restore balance
    • Flowering lawns - give your mower a holiday!
    • Autumn sowing deadlines 2011
    • DRY SPRING SOWING UPDATE
    • A time for sowing
    • Lammas day in cornfields
    • Spring sowing tips 2010
    • How to get cornfield annual plots to flower again in 2010 - new video
    • Autumn sowing deadlines
    • May sowing update
    • Taming Lush Spring Growth
  • Events
    • Scythers Question Time - SQT
    • Meadow Demonstration Days June 2021
    • Scythe and Grassland courses and events 2020
    • Meadows Demonstration Open Days 2020
    • Wood meadow management and scything demonstration day Sat 3rd August 2019.
    • Orchard grassland management & Practical scything workshop
    • SCYTHE AND GRASSLAND COURSES AND EVENTS 2019
    • Scythe and Grassland Courses and Events 2018
    • Winter Talks
    • WILD FLOWER AND GRASSLAND TRAINING EVENTS 2017
    • SCYTHE TRAINING EVENTS AND COURSES 2017
    • Wild flower and grassland training events 2016
    • SCYTHE TRAINING EVENTS AND COURSES 2016
    • Scythe training events and courses 2015
    • Wild flower and grassland management training events 2015
    • MEADOW MANAGEMENT & SCYTHE TRAINING 2014
    • MEADOW MANAGEMENT & SCYTHE TRAINING 2013
    • Meadow management & scythe training 2012
    • Training events 2011
    • Meadow management and scythe training JUNE 2011
    • Wild flower and Biodiversity Training events July 2010
    • Meadow management and Scythe Training events June 2010
    • Wild flower & Scythe training events June and July 2009
  • News
    • Yellow rattle spring watch 2021
    • COVID 19
    • Yellow rattle spring watch 2020
    • Yellow rattle spring watch 2019
    • Wild flowers and Rewilding
    • Blue butterflies return after sowing wild flowers
    • The plight of the solitary bee
    • Yellow Rattle Springwatch 2018
    • Poppies
    • Sow in snow?
    • Native Seed Conference at Kew Gardens
    • Monty Don on Scythes
    • Cricklade revisited
    • When is the latest time to sow seeds in spring?
    • Yellow Rattle Springwatch 2017
    • The ancient art of rake making
    • Yellow rattle spring watch 2016
    • Richard’s scythe workshop
    • RSPB Nature's Home magazine feature
    • YELLOW RATTLE SPRINGWATCH 2015
    • Spring Sowing Update
    • Yellow Rattle Springwatch 2012
    • Yellow Rattle Springwatch 2011
    • Oxborough scything demonstration and meadow question time
    • Dry weather delays seedling emergence
    • Scythe versus Strimmer 2010
    • Yellow rattle ‘Springwatch’ 2010
    • Wildflower diversity linked to the health of bees and other pollinating insects
    • Biodiversity is life
    • Winter wildlife snow shelters
    • 2009: A Record year for restoring wildflowers to farmland
    • Scythe beats Strimmer in mowing contest
    • Heritage wheat and other plant varieties - EC regulations relaxed
    • Emorsgate's founder marries 'page 3' flower girl
    • Yellow rattle ‘Springwatch’ 2009
    • RHS Grassland Characters
• Species
  • Wild Flowers
    • Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
    • Adonis annua (Pheasant's-eye)
    • Agrimonia eupatoria (Agrimony)
    • Agrostemma githago (Corncockle)
    • Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard)
    • Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)
    • Allium ursinum (Ramsons)
    • Althaea officinalis (Marsh-mallow)
    • Anacamptis pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchid)
    • Angelica sylvestris (Wild Angelica)
    • Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley)
    • Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney Vetch)
    • Aquilegia vulgaris (Columbine)
    • Arctium minus (Lesser Burdock)
    • Armeria maritima (Thrift (Sea Pink))
    • Arum maculatum (Lords-and-Ladies)
    • Barbarea vulgaris (Winter Cress)
    • Betonica officinalis - (Stachys officinalis) (Betony)
    • Bistorta officinalis - (Persicaria bistorta) (Common Bistort)
    • Buglossoides arvensis - (Lithospermum arvense) (Field Gromwell)
    • Bupleurum rotundifolium (Thorow-wax)
    • Calluna vulgaris (Ling - (Common Heather))
    • Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold)
    • Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)
    • Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell)
    • Campanula trachelium (Nettle-leaved Bellflower)
    • Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd's-purse )
    • Carlina vulgaris (Carline Thistle)
    • Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower)
    • Centaurea nigra (Common Knapweed)
    • Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
    • Centaurium erythraea (Common Centaury)
    • Chaerophyllum temulum (Rough Chervil)
    • Chelidonium majus (Greater Celandine)
    • Cirsium eriophorum (Woolly Thistle)
    • Clinopodium vulgare (Wild Basil)
    • Comarum palustris - (Potentilla palustris) (Marsh Cinquefoil)
    • Cota austriaca (Anthemis austriaca) (Corn Chamomile)
    • Cruciata laevipes (Crosswort)
    • Cynoglossum officinale (Houndstongue)
    • Daucus carota (Wild Carrot)
    • Dianthus deltoides (Maiden Pink)
    • Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)
    • Dipsacus fullonum (Wild Teasel)
    • Dipsacus pilosus (Small Teasel)
    • Echium vulgare (Viper's Bugloss)
    • Epilobium tetragonum (Square-stalked Willowherb)
    • Epipactis palustris (Marsh Helleborine)
    • Erigeron acris (Blue Fleabane)
    • Eryngium maritimum (Sea Holly)
    • Eupatorium cannabinum (Hemp Agrimony)
    • Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright)
    • Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)
    • Filipendula vulgaris (Dropwort)
    • Galeopsis tetrahit (Common Hemp-nettle)
    • Galium album - (Galium mollugo) (Hedge Bedstraw)
    • Galium verum (Lady's Bedstraw)
    • Genista tinctoria (Dyer's Greenweed)
    • Geranium lucidum (Shining Crane's-bill)
    • Geranium pratense (Meadow Crane's-bill)
    • Geranium pyrenaicum (Hedgerow Crane's-bill)
    • Geranium sanguineum (Bloody Crane's-bill )
    • Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Cranesbill)
    • Geum rivale (Water Avens)
    • Geum urbanum (Wood Avens)
    • Glebionis segetum - (Chrysanthemum segetum) (Corn Marigold)
    • Helianthemum nummularium (Common Rock-rose)
    • Heracleum sphondylium (Hogweed)
    • Hippocrepis comosa (Horseshoe Vetch)
    • Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell)
    • Hypericum perforatum (Perforate St John's Wort)
    • Hypericum tetrapterum (Square-stalked St John's Wort)
    • Hypochaeris radicata (Catsear)
    • Iberis amara (Wild Candytuft)
    • Inula conyzae (Ploughman's-spikenard)
    • Iris foetidissima (Gladdon)
    • Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)
    • Jasione montana (Sheep's-bit)
    • Knautia arvensis (Field Scabious)
    • Lamium purpureum (Red Dead-nettle)
    • Lapsana communis (Nipplewort)
    • Lathyrus nissolia (Grass Vetchling)
    • Lathyrus pratensis (Meadow Vetchling)
    • Lathyrus sylvestris (Narrow-leaved Everlasting-pea)
    • Leontodon hispidus (Rough Hawkbit)
    • Leucanthemum vulgare (Oxeye Daisy - (Moon Daisy))
    • Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax)
    • Linum bienne (Pale Flax)
    • Linum catharticum (Fairy Flax)
    • Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot Trefoil)
    • Lotus pedunculatus (Greater Birdsfoot Trefoil)
    • Lycopus europaeus (Gypsywort)
    • Lysimachia arvensis - (Anagallis arvensis) (Scarlet Pimpernel)
    • Lysimachia vulgaris (Yellow Loosestrife)
    • Lythrum salicaria (Purple Loosestrife)
    • Malva arborea - (Lavatera arborea) (Tree Mallow)
    • Malva moschata (Musk Mallow)
    • Matricaria chamomilla - (Matricaria recutita) (Scented Mayweed)
    • Medicago lupulina (Black Medick)
    • Mentha aquatica (Water Mint)
    • Misopates orontium (Weasel's-snout)
    • Myosotis arvensis (Field Forget-me-not)
    • Myrrhis odorata (Sweet Cicely)
    • Oenanthe pimpinelloides (Corky-fruited Water-dropwort)
    • Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin)
    • Ononis spinosa (Spiny Restharrow)
    • Origanum vulgare (Wild Marjoram)
    • Ornithogalum pyrenaicum (Bath Asparagus)
    • Papaver dubium (Long-headed Poppy)
    • Papaver rhoeas (Common Poppy)
    • Pastinaca sativa (Wild Parsnip)
    • Pimpinella major (Greater Burnet-saxifrage)
    • Pimpinella saxifraga (Burnet-saxifrage)
    • Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)
    • Plantago media (Hoary Plantain)
    • Poterium sanguisorba - (Sanguisorba minor) (Salad Burnet)
    • Primula elatior (Oxlip)
    • Primula veris (Cowslip)
    • Primula vulgaris (Primrose)
    • Prunella vulgaris (Selfheal)
    • Pulicaria dysenterica (Common Fleabane)
    • Ranunculus acris (Meadow Buttercup)
    • Ranunculus arvensis (Corn Buttercup)
    • Ranunculus bulbosus (Bulbous Buttercup)
    • Reseda lutea (Wild Mignonette)
    • Reseda luteola (Weld)
    • Rhinanthus minor (Yellow Rattle)
    • Rumex acetosa (Common Sorrel)
    • Rumex acetosella (Sheep's Sorrel)
    • Rumex sanguineus (Wood Dock)
    • Salvia verbenaca (Wild Clary)
    • Sanguisorba officinalis (Great Burnet)
    • Saponaria officinalis (Soapwort)
    • Saxifraga granulata (Meadow Saxifrage)
    • Scabiosa columbaria (Small Scabious)
    • Scorzoneroides autumnalis - (Leontodon autumnalis) (Autumn Hawkbit)
    • Scrophularia auriculata (Water Figwort)
    • Scutellaria galericulata (Skullcap)
    • Sherardia arvensis (Field Madder)
    • Silaum silaus (Pepper Saxifrage)
    • Silene dioica (Red Campion)
    • Silene flos-cuculi - (Lychnis flos-cuculi) (Ragged Robin)
    • Silene latifolia (White Campion)
    • Silene noctiflora (Night-flowering Catchfly)
    • Silene uniflora (Sea Campion)
    • Silene vulgaris (Bladder Campion)
    • Stachys sylvatica (Hedge Woundwort)
    • Stellaria holostea (Greater Stitchwort)
    • Succisa pratensis (Devil's-bit Scabious)
    • Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy)
    • Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion)
    • Teucrium scorodonia (Wood Sage)
    • Thalictrum flavum (Common Meadow-rue)
    • Thlaspi arvense (Field Penny-cress )
    • Torilis japonica (Upright Hedge-parsley)
    • Tragopogon pratensis (Goat's-beard)
    • Trifolium arvense (Hare's-foot Clover)
    • Trifolium ochroleucon (Sulphur Clover)
    • Trifolium pratense (Wild Red Clover)
    • Tripleurospermum inodorum (Scentless Mayweed)
    • Verbascum nigrum (Dark Mullein)
    • Verbascum thapsus (Great Mullein)
    • Verbena officinalis (Vervain)
    • Veronica persica (Common Field-speedwell)
    • Vicia cracca (Tufted Vetch)
    • Vicia sativa ssp. segetalis (Common Vetch)
    • Viola odorata (Sweet Violet)
    • Viola riviniana (Common Dog-violet)
    • Viola tricolor (Wild Pansy)
  • Wild Grasses and Sedges
    • Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent (w))
    • Agrostis stolonifera (Creeping Bent (w))
    • Agrostis vinealis (Brown Bent (w))
    • Alopecurus geniculatus (Marsh Foxtail (w))
    • Alopecurus pratensis (Meadow Foxtail (w))
    • Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet Vernal-grass (w))
    • Arrhenatherum elatius (False Oat-grass (w))
    • Avenella flexuosa - (Deschampsia flexuosa) (Wavy Hair-grass (w))
    • Avenula pubescens - (Helictotrichon pubescens) (Downy Oat-grass (w))
    • Brachypodium sylvaticum (False Brome (w))
    • Briza media (Quaking Grass (w))
    • Bromopsis erecta (Upright Brome (w))
    • Bromus commutatus (Meadow Brome (w))
    • Bromus hordeaceus (Soft Brome (w))
    • Carex flacca (Glaucous Sedge)
    • Carex pendula (Pendulous Sedge)
    • Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail (w))
    • Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot (w))
    • Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted Hair-grass (w))
    • Festuca ovina (Sheep's Fescue (w))
    • Festuca rubra (Red Fescue (w))
    • Festuca rubra ssp litoralis (Red Fescue (w))
    • Helictochloa pratensis - (Avenula pratensis) (Meadow Oat-grass (w))
    • Hordeum secalinum (Meadow Barley (w))
    • Koeleria macrantha (Crested Hair-grass (w))
    • Lolium perenne (Perennial Ryegrass (w))
    • Luzula campestris (Field Wood-rush)
    • Phleum bertolonii (Smaller Cat's-tail (w))
    • Phragmites australis (Common Reed)
    • Schedonorus arundinaceus - (Festuca arundinacea) (Tall Fescue (w))
    • Schedonorus pratensis - (Festuca pratensis) (Meadow Fescue (w))
    • Trisetum flavescens (Yellow Oat-grass (w))
  • Other Grasses
    • Agrostis capillaris (Common Bent)
    • Agrostis stolonifera (Creeping Bent)
    • Arrhenatherum elatius (False Oat-grass)
    • Cynosurus cristatus (Crested Dogstail)
    • Dactylis glomerata (Cocksfoot)
    • Festuca ovina (Sheep's Fescue)
    • Festuca rubra (Red Fescue)
    • Festuca rubra (Strong-creeping Red-fescue)
    • Festuca rubra ssp. commutata (Chewing's Fescue)
    • Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire Fog)
    • Lolium multiflorum (Westerwolds Ryegrass)
    • Lolium perenne (Perennial Ryegrass)
    • Phleum bertolonii (Smaller Cat's-tail)
    • Phleum pratense (Timothy)
    • Poa nemoralis (Wood Meadow-grass)
    • Poa pratensis (Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass)
    • Poa trivialis (Rough-stalked Meadow-grass)
    • Puccinellia distans (Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass)
    • Schedonorus arundinaceus (Festuca arundinacea) (Tall Fescue)
    • Schedonorus pratensis (Festuca pratensis) (Meadow Fescue)
  • Other clovers, legumes and herbs
    • Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)
    • Centaurea nigra (Knapweed)
    • Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot Trefoil (Ag))
    • Medicago lupulina (Black Medick (Ag))
    • Onobrychis viciifolia (Sainfoin (Ag))
    • Plantago lanceolata (Ribwort Plantain)
    • Trifolium hybridum (Alsike Clover (Ag))
    • Trifolium pratense (Red Clover (Ag))
    • Trifolium repens (Small Leaved White Clover (Ag))
• Mixtures
  • Meadow and Grassland
    • General purpose meadow mixtures
      • EM1 – Basic General Purpose Meadow Mixture
      • EM2 – Standard General Purpose Meadow Mixture
      • EM3 – Special General Purpose Meadow Mixture
    • Meadow mixtures for different soil types
      • EM4 – Meadow Mixture for Clay Soils
      • EM5 – Meadow Mixture for Loamy Soils
      • EM6 – Meadow Mixture for Chalk and Limestone Soils
      • EM7 – Meadow Mixture for Sandy Soils
      • EM8 – Meadow mixture for wetlands
    • Wild harvested meadow mixtures
      • EM11 – Cricklade North Meadow Mixture
      • EM18 – St Catherine Mixture (limestone grassland)
      • EM31 – Clattinger Meadows Mixture
      • EM32 – The Royal Meadows Highgrove Mixture
      • EM35 – Barbury Castle Meadow Mixture
    • Other grassland mixtures
      • EL1 – Flowering lawn mixture
      • EM10 – Tussock Mixture
      • ER1 – Turf roof mixture
    • 100% wild flower mixtures
      • EL1F – Wild flowers for lawns
      • EM10F – Tussock wild flowers
      • EM1F – Basic general purpose wild flowers
      • EM2F – Standard general purpose wild flowers
      • EM3F – Special general purpose wild flowers
      • EM4F – Wild flowers for clay soils
      • EM5F – Wild flowers for loamy soils
      • EM6F – Wild flowers for chalk & limestone soils
      • EM7F – Wild flowers for sandy soils
      • ER1F – Wild flowers for green roofs
    • 100% meadow grass mixtures
      • EG1 – General purpose meadow grass mixture
      • EG10 – Tussock grass mixture
      • EG4 – Meadow grass mixture for clay soils
      • EG5 – Meadow grass mixture for loamy soils
      • EG6 – Meadow grass mixture for chalk & limestone soils
      • EG7 – Meadow grass mixture for sandy soils
    • 100% wild grass mixtures
  • Wetland and Pond
    • Meadow mixtures for wetlands
      • EG8 – Meadow grass mixture for wet soils
      • EM8 – Meadow mixture for wetlands
      • EM8F – Wild flowers for wetlands
    • Pond edge mixtures
      • EP1 – Pond Edge Mixture
      • EP1F – Wild flowers for pond edges
  • Hedge and Woodland
    • Hedgerow mixtures
      • EG10 – Tussock grass mixture
      • EH1 – Hedgerow Mixture
      • EH1F – Wild Flowers for Hedgerows
      • EM10 – Tussock Mixture
      • EM10F – Tussock wild flowers
    • Woodland mixtures
      • EG9 – Grass mixture for hedgerows and woodland
      • EW1 – Woodland Mixture
      • EW1F – Wild flowers for woodland
  • Cornfield Annuals
    • Standard mixtures
      • EC1 – Standard Cornfield Mixture
    • Special mixtures
      • EC2 – Special Cornfield Mixture
  • Other Mixtures
    • Amenity grass mixtures
      • EG21 – Fine Lawn Grass Mixture
      • EG22 – Strong Lawn Grass Mixture
    • Grazing mixtures
      • EG26 – Standard Old Fashioned Grazing Mixture
      • EG27 – Special Old Fashioned Grazing Mixture
    • Farmland stewardship mixtures
      • ESF1 – Meadow Flowers
      • ESF2 – Wild Pollen and Nectar Flowers
      • ESF3 – Legume pollen and nectar Flower mix
      • ESG1 – Basic Fine Grass Mixture
      • ESG2 – Fine Grassland Mixture
      • ESG3 – Meadowland Grass Mixture
      • ESG4 – Tussock Grass Mixture