March 2011 visit to Gailes Marsh

I returned to visit Gailes Marsh in late March, just before the last few horses left the reserve. They had done a good job in cropping down rough grass throughout the meadow areas of the reserve, although some areas such as the entrance were looking a little worse for wear.

Entrance to Gailes Marsh where the horses are fed.

In the photos below you can see horses feeding on the grass between the kidney vetch strips. There were 4 left on the reserve at the time, and they should be gone by the end of March.

The kidney vetch plants in the strips were looking healthy and a good proportion should hopefully flower this year.

Other Small Blue news
I've heard from Owen Figgis who has been growing kidney vetch for the project. It sounds like quite a lot of the seedlings which were sown last autumn succumbed to the frost, but he still has about 200 that survived, plus 120 year-old plants that were sown last year. He has also sown 4 further trays this year which have germinated well. So we should have plenty of plants for out next Small Blue Work party this May! Hurrah! Many thanks to Owen for the photos! :)

Year-old Kidney Vetch Plant

Kidney vetch seedlings sown 2011.

Young Kidney vetch plant sown Autumn 2010.