Millenium Field Group....The Millennium Field is Common Land, an historically special place, where the Monnow joins the Wye. We aim to develop an accessible area, attractive to locals, visitors and a diversity of wildlife. This is the triangular area of flood plain, cut by the Monnow where it flows into the Wye and bordered by the allotments. You can glimpse it below you, as you drive west along the A40. Presently, you can reach it by following the riverside track downstream from Monmouth’s famous fortified ancient bridge, under the new bridge and the A40. Care and Management of the Field The idea is to preserve riverbank undergrowth as habitat, while ensuring that the rivers are visible at mown gaps where benches have been placed. Paths in the meadow will be cut short for easy walking. No unauthorised motor vehicles are allowed on the field. In 2003 the wide variety of plants was professionally recorded for us. However couch grass and nettles were very dominant on the main field, the result of years of standard mowing, but leaving the cuttings to rot, so enriching the soil too much. In order to encourage ‘hay meadow’ conditions, we hope to gradually reduce this fertility by mowing annually and removing the cuttings. We started this regime four years ago. Monmouthshire County Council and The Greenfingers Team undertake this work.
For the last two years we have also encouraged donations of wild plants from local gardens in the Wye and Monnow valleys. We gratefully acknowledge contributions of holly, hazel, oak, birch, primrose, cowslip, strawberry, violet, vetch, ox-eye daisy and bird’s foot trefoil.
A working party of slightly crazy but extremely determined volunteers meet down at the field on the first Saturday of the month, at 10am. More help is always welcome! For more information, please telephone 01600 772209. |
Meanwhile we have concentrated on an agreed wildflower trial area, chosen because it consists of the poorest soil mainly cinders. Here we have, with the help of pupils from Overmonnow Primary School, sown seeds gathered locally from a hay meadow at Pentwyn Farm and donated by Gwent Wildlife. We have added Yellow Rattle which weakens couch grass. On sunny days, you will see that butterflies and other insects definitely favour this area.
Whether these have been planted among the riverbank trees, alongside hedges or in the trial meadow area, they are all plotted on a map. This means that these ‘artificial’ additions to the plant list are being recorded, so that any natural recovery due to the better mowing regime, can be tracked separately.
We are also very pleased with the energetic help from 1st Wyesham Scouts this year. We have yet to start recording sightings of increased bird, insect and animal life!