Why The Friends Keep Ballard Water Meadow Trimmed

Perhaps the most common criticism received by the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow is that we are ruining the meadow and Woar copse by cutting wild flowers and undergrowth.

In reality, the water meadow and woodlands are maintained through a programme recommended by the New Forest Land Advice Service, the New Forest National Park Authority and Natural England. In any case, any gardener creating a wildflower patch will tell you the best results come from a meadow that is cut at least once a year.

When New Milton Town Council originally took over the site, the woodland was overgrown and so dominated by holly trees that little, if any, light got into the copse. Certainly only the most intrepid human could penetrate the interior. In such an environment, only the harshest of plants could survive. Thinning the woodland has meant the return of bluebells and other wildflowers and a more welcoming site for birds and animals.

The Friends of Ballard Water Meadow have to constantly cut back holly and clear brambles to maintain this balance.

Out on the water meadow itself, the area could easily be overcome by rough grasses, brambles, thistles, water dropwort and hemlock – as it had been previously. The trick is to regularly reduce these plants that threaten to take over so the Ragged Robin and orchids we all love have a chance to grow and display.

Grazing is by far the most effective way to control the water meadows and we are lucky to have had a docile group of Dexter cattle do the job for us. However, during 2016, we have had some challenges keeping the cattle on the meadow and so have had to resort to sickles, scrub cutters and a petrol mower to get the job done.

Hopefully in years to come, we can return to more environmentally friendly methods.

Next time you see the Friends of Ballard Water Meadow working, you will know that there really is a plan behind it all.

To understand more about maintaining water meadows and woodlands, visit the Historic England and Forestry Commission websites.