Verinda's meadow

[Verinda]

I met my new neighbour yesterday, I asked him what he planned to do with my dads field...now his field, it's full of wild flowers, butterflies and bees. He said...

"I plan to kill everything, re seed it and cut it like a lawn". Then he said he was going to cut down all the trees.

I told him about the wild flowers butterflies and bees and he just looked annoyed and disinterested. I can only hope his wife who I haven't met yet will be more enlightened ):

[alldigging]

I met my new neighbour yesterday, I asked him what he planned to do with my dads field...now his field, it's full of wild flowers, butterflies and bees. He said...

"I plan to kill everything, re seed it and cut it like a lawn". Then he said he was going to cut down all the trees.

I told him about the wild flowers butterflies and bees and he just looked annoyed and disinterested. I can only hope his wife who I haven't met yet will be more enlightened ):

Does he plan on using agricultrual as garden? You might be able to thwart him.

[Verinda]

Does he plan on using agricultrual as garden? You might be able to thwart him.

No, just keen to cut lots of grass, keep it under control, horribly neat and tidy. The meadow is at least an acre so he would be spraying a massive amount of weed killer. Perhaps I could stop him somehow. Or perhaps it just won't happen

[PyreneesPlot]

Do you have such things as Tree Preservation Orders? Might make more difficult for him- or are there any rare species that need protecting?

My rant - tidy over genetic diversity and our biosecurity.

[Verinda]

I'm going to look into it. I will honestly be throwing myself in front of the sprayer rather than see everything killed, seeing a beautiful untouched ancient meadow turned into a giant lawn, nope can't let that happen!!!

[Lumpy]

I don't suppose any areas close to you Verinda are classed as sites of special interest are there?

My rant is that I hope Verinda's new neighbour starts some mysterious problem that means he can't shove a mower or drive a ride on and every time a contractor tries to bring machinery in a rare newt/frog/plant/mushroom etc is spotted by a council official

How about trying the 'well, it would save you soooooo much effort if you left it alone' and 'Oh thats a sham as wild flowers are so appreciated by all of the locals especially as centre pieces for dinner parties'.

[JanieB]

Verinda, I don't know whether you are in the UK or Eire and I'm not sure if Natural England has any jurisdiction where you are, but they have a movement to protect meadowland. It might be worth your while googling them or contacting them to see if they can help.

[Verinda]

Lumpy x

Come to think of it just about every species is becoming rare these days and the meadow is a unique resource...V's on the warpath now...

[Verinda]

Janie, I'm in Ireland so it's unlikely but I will be googling to see if there's anything similar here.

Will I be told off for chatting?

[veggiechicken]

Started a new thread for you, Verinda

[Guest]

How come the meadow was sold? (especially when you feel so strongly about it)

Were there any covenants on the uses of the land?

[Verinda]

Thank you VC

My dad took out a life loan years and years ago, a life loan means it can be paid back any time but if you do not or can not pay it back the bank takes possession of your house after you die. Due to lots of unforseen circumstances poor dad could not pay it back, he felt guilty for living to 93 because of all the interest and miserable because he was unable to leave us anything, even though we assured him it didn't matter, it was awful.

The meadow was included so the bank sold the meadow with the house, there was nothing we could do about it. The bank was absolutely heartless and gave us one week to clear all the furniture out of the house.

The sale went through two days ago, my one hope was for environmentally friendly neighbours but its not looking promising. But perhaps he will change his mind, my husband pointed out to him that the lawn alone is at least half an acre and quite enough grass to cut without cutting an enormous meadow as well and he did sort of agree. They aren't moving in till next year as they are having the builders in so plenty of time for me to find a militant group of activists to move in and protect the meadow!

Thank you all for your support x

[Lumpy]

OK at the riskof sounding nuts...

Is the land peat/bog and if so has it ever had an archeological investigation? If so they would protest.
You mention that the meadow has lots of flowers - anything really rare/unusual/thought extinct?
Does it have a public right of way through it? If so do the new people want their lawn invadeed by hikers or would they prefer to keep their privacy.
Voles.......field mice.....bugs.....birds
Any historical interest?

Was it your Dad that allowed it to become a wild meadow or has it always been so?

[Verinda]

It has always been a meadow. not bog, there's no right of way so no walkers, no historical interest as far as I know, but I think the exceptional amount of devils bit scabious might be unusual. If next year he is still considering killing everything I will send pictures of the field to biodiversity Ireland.

There is also a new initiative here asking everyone to leave areas for the bees, they are in such decline here and the meadow is a haven for them Ireland’s bees are in danger, but here’s the plan that could save them so this may help as well.

[Guest]

Can you speak to your neighbour and see if you can rent the meadow then possibly buy it at a later date? even if it is only some of it.

The wildlife and countryside act 1981 prohibits destruction of habitats. It might also be worth talking to your equivalent of the RSPCA and see what they can do - they should certainly take an interest. Orchids tends to be a good one for stopping destruction of land.

Contact as many different groups as possible and keep records of everything. Good luck

Sorry to hear how it got sold - that really sucks

Edit: don't wait until next year the sooner you get a preservation order on it the better.