Since the second world war wildflower meadows and cornfield annuals have virtually died out due to pesticides and modern farming methods. The knock-on effect to wildlife has been negative. At Liquorice Park we already have successful wildflower meadows and are trying to add to our diversity by planting cornfield annuals consisting of a mix including poppies, corncockle, cornflower and ox eye daisy. They attract a huge range of beneficial insects, some small mammals and a few of our seed eating birds as well.
As a trial, in 2020 we dug a small 15 square metre patch above the Performance Area to sow the annual cornfield seeds specially mixed for our heavy clay soil. The site was not easy, on a slope with perennial weeds. We divided the plot into two and planted half in October 2020 and the other half in March 2021.
Results
The October planting has romped ahead, and we are beginning to see the flowers appearing. The March sowing is slower, and we think has suffered from the difficult spring of hot/cold April and wet cold May. And the weeds are back with a vengeance competing. A bit of hand weeding will help.
It is a long way yet from our dreamed of jewel like flowers so the jury is out on whether it has been successful. We remain optimistic and will be monitoring it and keeping you updated.
The pictures were taken in the second week of June 2021.
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