Despite another recent flood in the field, the apple trees seem to be doing well. We even got a few apples appear on one of them. However, we are not looking for crops of apples at the moment as we have to pick off any blossom or small apples to allow the energy of the tree into growing its trunk and branches. It will be 4/5 years time before we start using the fruit.
by Mike Hopkins
18Jun2024
Counting plant species.
As mid-summer approached, four lucky surveyors were deployed to Storm Wildlife’s very own Halford Flood Meadow for a species count. A wildflower seed mix planted in September 2023 is now in full bloom, making June the perfect time for the annual species survey.
To ensure consistency year after year, our surveyors used What3Words to create precise sampling areas, helping us track the meadow’s transformation over time. The Photo Mapp app was invaluable for geolocating plant photos, ensuring accurate records for each quadrat. After the count, PlantNet identified the various species.
This year, there has been 110% increase in species compared to 2023! The meadow now boasts plants such as Ox-eye daisy, crested dogstail, and lesser trefoil. A heat map was created highlighting the most diverse areas, revealing that regions of a slightly higher elevation had the highest species count. We are ever hopeful these numbers will continue to rise next year.
