Often described as the ‘rainforest of Europe’, chalk grassland is home to an incredibly rich and diverse range of plant and insect life. Once restored, the wildflower meadows contain up to 40 species of flowering plants per sqm. Many species don’t grow anywhere else, including many beautiful orchids and wildflowers. These attract many insects and rare butterflies including the Adonis Blue and Duke of Burgundy.
We’ve finally finished the scrub-clearance and fencing on a 20 acre block; adding to a total of 35 acres of chalk grassland now under restoration. The sheep and the goats should be in shortly to finish off the job of keeping the scrub under control and allowing the chalk-grassland plants to thrive.
It was great to be able to show around folk from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Old Chalk New Downs last week. A big thank-you to both organisations for the funding and support to be able to carry out this work on the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) escarpment.
It’s great to see the wild sage and wild strawberry already making a comeback. If you get the chance, do come and have a walk through. The smell of the chalk grassland herbs are intoxicating in the summer.
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