The long task of mowing the wildflower meadows at Bracken House started at the beginning of November. This is earlier than last year, when I didn’t start the task until the New Year. However, with all the wet weather throughout the year, the grass in the meadows had grown high, and was very dense. Next year, I shall have to mow twice a year, before the growing season starts in Spring and again in July or August, depending on the weather.
With the weather very unsettled, without any reasonable dry spells, the mowing is taking longer than I expected. Once the meadows are cut, the grass needs to be raked up and burnt. This year, I will burn the cuttings in the small field so as not to leave a bare patch in the meadows.
This year, the problem was made worse by mice nibbling the bark around the trees in parts of the meadow. I know it to be mice as I had seen five mice in the vicinity as I was mowing. On some trees, they have nibbled all the way around the tree which will probably mean those trees will die and will have to be replaced. I have had to buy some plastic tree protector to place around the trunks to prevent further damage, though I suspect that I will lose at least three trees.