Hurst Meadows News
It has been lovely to see so many people of all ages enjoying Hurst Meadows over the summer. We are so lucky to have this beautiful area of countryside open space so close to and accessible from the centre of Hurstpierpoint. Let us hope that the value to people and to nature of large areas of grassland, scrub, hedgerows and trees is recognised by authorities and developers as we face increased building in and adjacent to the Parish.
It has been a bumper butterfly year in Hurst Meadows. We particularly hope that you saw the numerous Common Blue butterflies that were enjoying the birdsfoot trefoil and fleabane this summer. The males really are the loveliest colour as they flit about. Thank you to all our butterfly survey volunteers who have again done sterling work (and on some very hot days!) recording butterfly numbers and species every week in Hurst Meadows. If you are interested in joining this group or would like to assist with other conservation work in the Meadows, please email the Parish Council Office.
Annual grass-cutting will be taking place in Hurst Meadows in September. As usual our contractor will be using a cut and collect mower once the wild flowers have set seed and the ground nesting birds have moved on. We will be building on last year’s experimental pattern cut in Fifteen Acre Field which was successful in giving a less formal look to the grassland and in protecting those birds and in also giving wildlife the benefit of more edges between different lengths of grass etc. Nature loves an edge! Thank you to those local dog-owners who always clear up after their dog and use the many bins provided for the disposal of dog waste. Thank you also for keeping your dogs on the paths and thereby protecting the birds and other wildlife which are increasingly making Hurst Meadows their home.
To read the full newsletter, please pick up your copy of Hurst Life or click the images to enlarge them.