Verinda's meadow

[PyreneesPlot]

If the land cannot be given protected status as an ancient meadow or area of significant biodiversity importance, maybe he could just be shown that a single annual cut with maybe a mown path or two would be a lot less work?
Do you have a local wildlife trusts that could be encouraged to help him see the importance of the site, maybe even help him manage it sustainably?
What a horrible thing for you to have to witness at this time. If you want any help of the research or contacting people type just ask

[Nicos]

I can see your heartbreaking thoughts...but it's also very important you don't get his back up so early in your neighbourly relationship.
If you do that, then he may just ignore, or worse still , do things specifically to annoy you.
Some peeps are like that I'm afraid.

Maybe you need go betweens to keep you out of any firing range in case things progress badly between you?

Hopefully the extra work could be daunting....but he may be driven by the idea he can play on a big boys toy in such a large area of field?

[bramble]

Don't give up Verinda, you just might be able to stop him as it is meadowland.
Good luck and keep us updated.

[Bonsai Si]

Set Chris Packham on him, that should sort the issue.

[Verinda]

Thank you so much everyone for your support and advice I really appreciate it.

When I heard him say that about killing everything I just felt such despair, I have been hoping and praying...I'm not religious but am spiritual for an environmentally friendly neighbour, I felt sure that in these enlightened times it would be someone who had some concern for the environment and to acquire this beautiful meadow with the house is...or should be such a blessing but his attitude was that he had this big bit of land that had to be tamed and made neat and tidy and it was all a bit tiresome.

We did at the time tell him my dad had a neighbour in to cut it once a year and I of course said in a slightly demented voice that it was ancient meadowland, not sure if he was listening. You are right Nicos, I dont want to start a war with him immediately so I'll do all my research first and be ready if there's any question of it being sprayed.

We don't really have the money to buy or rent it, but maybe one day.

[bearded bloke]

I wonder if Ireland might have a similar interest to this in N.I., it's a bit heavy going due to it's sheer size 144 pages (.. http://www.dardni.gov.uk/nicms_information_booklet.pdf ..) even if not you might be able to get your nieghbour to have a look ? it might help infuence his decision

[Verinda]

Thank you BB, I could maybe take some notes from it, the bits that he really needs to know!

I remembered that when Mr V told him about my dad getting it cut once a year he said that if it was just left like that one type of weed (weed? Grrr!) would smother everything else, I wanted to point out that over the past centuries that had not yet happened but managed not to as I did not want to argue with him.

Basically he needs educating and I intend to tactfully enlighten him! Also I frequently see honeybees in the meadow and I know there are a lot of bee keepers around, I had better find who they are, I am sure they would not be pleased to hear what the new neighbour plans to do!

[Guest]

^^^ could you not put a scrap book together of your wildlife pics and drop them to your new neighbour saying I thought you might be interested in having a look at these, they are all from the meadow over the years - wink, wink, nudge, nudge

[Nicos]

^^^ nice idea!

...maybe put in old piccies of the outside of the house too so it's not too focussed on the meadow???

[Verinda]

I think that's a great idea, I will look up some photos later. Thank you so much NG and Nicos x

There are beautiful orchids in the field, not unusual ones unfortunately, the common purple ones but still reasonably rare, and I think there must be badgers at the bottom of the field as there is so much digging going on.

The trees he wants to cut down are mostly conifers, I reminded him that they provide a lot of shelter, but really I was thinking of the delightful colony of goldcrest wrens that live in them! If he attempts to cut down my mums beloved beech tree I'm afraid I will be hurling myself in front of the saw.

[bramble]

Are there any Corncrakes, Woodpeckers or other protected bird species nesting in the field or in the trees surrounding it?

[bramble]

Verinda, have you looked at the list of protected flowers listed by The Botanic Gardens?
There is a list of all our native Irish plants, wild flowers and herbs.
Hope this might be useful to you.

[Verinda]

Nothing rare that I know of Bramble, I wish there was.

Thank you, I will look up that list immediately!

[Greenleaves]

I noticed in an earlier thread reference was made the the Wildlife and Countryside Act, this is UK legislation and is not on the statute of Ireland.

If you want support on protecing the land try talking to Conserve Ireland A guide to Irelands protected habitats & species or the Irish Wildlife Trust www.iwt.ie

Good luck

[Verinda]

Thank you GL I have just sent the Irish Wildlife Trust an email and have bookmarked the other link, I am sure I will find a protected species.

I see there's a protected flower listed as birds foot, I wonder if that's birds foot trefoil, we have lots of that on our plot, not sure if it's in the meadow though. I can't find a flower that's just called birds foot.