Village Gardeners
Dr. Peter Grubb gave us a fascinating illustrated talk about the Devil's
Ditch. He is a Cambridge University botanist who has a long association with
the ditch, and is now chairman of its "Friends".
We had a brief history of the 7 mile, man-made chalk earthwork, which is post Roman - probably ninth century: a more detailed picture of its rare plants and insects; the different habitats, and then discussed the problems of its management that have arisen since the invasion of scruband the last decades,sheepgrazing.
The rare plants - Spotted Cats Ears, Lizard Orchids, Pulsatillas, Fleabanes, Bastard Toadflax, Purple Milk Vetch, Hawkweed, Oxtongues, Pyramidal Orchids, all happily co-exist with the different grasses, and the more common Bloody Cranesbill, Wild Thyme and Marjoram.
A careful regime of controlled burning was begun at the beginning of the 20th century, which benefits some plants and in its turn ensures that the species of insects ( a lot of flies) and rare moths and butterflies - the Emperor moth and the Chalk Hill Blue Butterfly, to mention just two, have their habitat maintained..
The Scrub - Hawthorn, Dog and Gelder roses have "invaded" the Ditch and by increasing the fertility of the soil, have changed the balance of the other plants. The grazing has much reduced some species and eliminated others, with the notable exception of the Small Scabious, which is now more prolific.
So the botanists, ornithologists, archaeologists, and other conservationists don't always agree on the best way forward, but with financial help from English Heritage, the "Friends" with their great and diverse depth of specialist knowledge and its many conservations volunteers continue to dedicate themselves to maintaining the uniqueness of what is clearly one of the County's treasures.
Names for the trip to Kew on the 22nd May please, by the 30th April.