Haywards Heath u3a Eco-friendly Living Group meeting 8 April 2024

The meeting was open to ten persons including six guests, primarily to visit the garden to view the plants and insects. The garden is on a contour line from which natural springs emerge elsewhere around the village. Although no springs occur in the garden, marsh thistles and Southern Marsh orchids are thriving, confirming damp conditions. Other orchid species rosettes were seen; Common Twayblades, Common-spotted orchids and a solitary Fragrant orchid.

During the tour a Green-veined White butterfly was seen which can be found in gardens favouring damp areas. A range of wild crucifers are eaten by the caterpillars including, Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), both well established in this garden. A leading article was presented to the meeting from a veterinary journal highlighting the ecological damage from flea “treatments”, i.e. poisons.

This is also addressed by a Buglife report on flea poisons. And it was a concern in the Parliamentary Westminster Hall committee meeting at https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/4abdd3b2-2ebc-4059-b498-798f00f4a1f1 when for the fourth year an emergency derogation allows the use of neonicotinoid treated sugar beet seeds contrary to all expert advice. If you are pressed for time start viewing from 15 minutes into the discussion.

Haywards Heath u3a Eco-friendly group meeting

 

Hairy-footed flower bee male

Haywards Heath eco-friendly living meeting

Notes for Monday 8^th April 2024; Wildlife gardening

At our u3a eco-friendly living meeting prior study ensures a more productive meeting of minds on the day. 

At https://www.rhs.org.uk/wildlife is a wonderful analysis, which does not need repeating at our meeting.  The meeting agenda will be an introduction of eleven minutes (please ensure I set a timer!); twelve minutes of open discussion and then the garden tour after which you can decide how the garden matches an ideal wildlife garden.  If you would like to take away some plants, e.g. ox-eye daisies please bring some bags and we can dig some up.  Some “weeds” will be left for you in my vegetable beds.

The tour will start with early flowering plants, Daphne bholua which is fabulous for hibernating bumblebee queens, butterflies and other insects e.g. Hairy-footed flower bee. For your information (and for my check list) we will hopefully see many of the species below and some that benefit from them.  The links give detailed info’, and many photos from my garden like this one.

Wildlife	Creatures supported
Winter jasmine
Ramsons	Tawney mining bee
Mint	Mint moth
Thyme
Forget me not	Bee fly  Check this link!
Primula	,,
Amelanchia Canadensis	Food for numerous birds
Osmanthus burkwoodii	Planted for the scent.
Vibernum	,,
Styrax japonicus	Bumblebees and jumping spider
Azelia	A Rhododendron.
Lavender	Goldfinches and bees
Red campion
Shamrock
Devil’s bit scabious	All bees
Snakes head Fritillary	Bumblebees
Lady’ smock, Cuckoo flower	Orange tip butterfly Pls see link
Garlic mustard	https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=orange+tip
Ground ivy	Please see this link
Ivy	Holly Blue butterfly and lots more
Wild strawberry	Pigeon, mammals, slugs etc.
Barren strawberry	insects
Foxgloves	Bumblebees
Violets	Insects and Bullfinches
Rosemary	All bees
Buddleia	Butterflies, bees
Cuckoo and other bees	Please see https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=bees+my+garden
Brambles
Fox cubs and mum Cute cubs in the link	https://sussexrambler.blogspot.com/search?q=fox  Check this link
Badger
Native orchids	Common-spotted; Common twayblade; Southern marsh; Fragrant.
Cornflowers	Bees and Goldfinches
Yellow rattle	Bees
Scabious
Ragwort
Honeysuckle
Enchanters nightshade & Willowherb	Elephant Hawk moth
Spiders	Numerous species

Finally, a few more pictures at http://www.peterlovetttalks.co.uk/page19.html

Guests are usually welcomed at our meetings. This one is fully subscribed though.

Many more u3a special interest group details can be seen at https://www.haywardsheathu3a.org.uk/