Habitats Group
Since 2022 the Habitats Group have volunteered to manage and enhance wildlife habitats in Broomfield Park, focusing initially on the wildflower meadow and the banks of the wetlands. These areas contain a mixture of wildflowers and grasses, and support populations of butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, frogs and birds among other wildlife.
What is the group doing?
The meadow and wetland banks need mowing in the spring and late summer, otherwise coarse grasses, docks, brambles and thistles will gradually crowd out the wildflowers.
A lot of effort has gone in to creating these habitats, so it is important we maintain our regime of bi-annual mowing and raking. Many hands make light work, so if you would like to help then please get in touch.
Mowing the Meadow
After mowing, the cut material needs to be raked up and taken away. Year on year, this reduces the fertility of the soil, helping the wildflowers hold their own against the grass and rank weeds.
Maintaining the Wetlands
The wetlands are fed by surface water run-off from the residential area north of the park, which flows in through the top two lakes and from land drains running across the open parkland to the west.
The wetlands act as a reservoir holding storm water while reed beds clean the water from pollutants before releasing it into Pymmes Brook.
Small fish (sticklebacks) attract herons and kingfishers. Dense stands of reeds host waterfowl like ducks and moorhens. The reeds need to be cut back periodically to prevent them taking over – this is one of the tasks completed during 2023.
Projects
- Establish more butterfly foodplants around the park e.g. nettles and hedge garlic.
- Create log piles for beetles and other invertebrates and to provide hibernation places for butterflies, frogs etc.
- Check for the presence of slow worms.
- Continue monitoring wildflower and butterfly species.
