Wild verge update

The Wild Verge outside the Parish Council offices in Groombridge looks a bit different this month:  following a year of surveying the existing plants we’ve begun to look after it in a positive way to encourage a wide range of Wealden wildflowers.

After lots of discussions with the parish council, residents and experts in High Weald wildflower meadows, we have split the verge into three. We’re leaving the end nearest the station untouched apart from an annual mow at the end of the summer – we’ll keep watching to see what plants arrive naturally.

We mowed the other two areas in early April. We scarified (scraped back) the middle section and sowed Yellow Rattle seeds. Yellow Rattle – often called the Meadow Maker – reduces the vigour of strong grasses that outcompete other plants, so in time we should see an interesting range of wild plants emerge in this section. 

The section nearest the Junction has been sown with a High Weald wildflower and grass mix, including flowers such as Common Spotted Orchids, vetches, Sneezewort, Yarrow and Fairy Flax. We were very careful to choose a mix of plants that are native to our soil and region – you won’t see a cottage garden style display, as you get from some mixes, but a beautiful sweep of plants that will thrive here.

If you’d like to know more about the wildflower seed mix we used, the High Weald Meadows Partnership has lots more information.

Finally, we erected a barrier of posts and rope to keep the verge safe from vehicles and the over-enthusiastic mowing team of East Sussex County Council!