Website of the Friends of Hilly Fields
As spring is upon us and we have some tasks that need completing promptly: we have been having well spaced maintenance events! Thanks to everyone who came to help this weekend. We will continue to weed the new tree planting, mulch and plant the newly layered hedge. We have more plants on order for the Vicars Hill entrance and Cliffview boundary. These include hedgerow perennials and hedging plants.
Following receipt of a tree plan from the council we went on a walk around the park, to check the impact of the proposed tree planting. Four of the new trees are proposed along the path that runs along the south meadow.
It was such a beautiful morning on Hilly Fields today and I couldn’t resist taking a few photographs of the autumn trees.
This is an abandoned nest – possibly a squirrel’s drey – surrounded by autumnal oak leaves.
The silver birches by the tennis courts are just past their best but still worth a look if you’re passing in the next few days. Their drooping leaves and catkins are delicate and difficult to capture in photographs. A native tree, one of the best for wildlife.
Berries of the Whitebeam tree in the north field. Much loved by the Mistle Thrushes in the park, the Whitebeam is native in Southern England and Ireland. The white leaves which are scattered on the grass at the moment can look silvery in autumn and the veins are finely etched . The whiteness is what gives the tree its name, ‘beam’ being an Anglo-Saxon word for tree.
A beech tree, also in the north field, and one of only two in the park. A native tree with many benefits for wildlife. The beech nuts (collectively known as beech mast) are not produced every year and this appears to be a ‘no-show’ year.
A carpet of leaves in the shade garden next to the bowling green.
I forgot to check what species of tree these are, but I like the way their foliage complements the yellow of the bin at bottom left!
Even trees don’t last for ever, especially those threatened by spreading diseases. Our new tree saplings will widen a stand of horse chestnuts. This species is currently under attack from at least three pests and diseases. The most serious of which is ‘bleeding canker’. That’s what it is called, not what I think of it. So we are planning for the potential long term loss of the boundary trees.
SUNDAY, 3rd November: We need to sort out our WWI meadow so that it is ready for re-seeding. We’ll be at the meadow, up the bank on the corner of the lane, the other side of the lane to the tennis courts. Bring gloves and tools if you have them. We will have some extra. We will start around 10.30 and finish at 12.30.
The meadow towards the end of summer.
Hilly Fields South Meadow – Species found 13 July 2019
Flowers (39)
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Anthriscus sylvestris Cow Parsley
Centaurea nigra Common Knapweed
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Convolvulus arvensis Field Bindweed
Crepis capillaris Smooth Hawk’s-beard
Echinops sphaerocephalus Glandular Globe-thistle
Galium aparine Cleavers (Goosegrass)
Galium mollugo Hedge Bedstraw
Galium x pomeranicum Hybrid of Hedge and Lady’s Bedstraw
Galium verum Lady’s Bedstraw
Geranium dissectum Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill
Geranium pratense Meadow Crane’s-bill
Helminthotheca echioides Bristly Oxtongue
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling
Lotus corniculatus Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil
Malva moschata Musk-mallow
Oenanthe pimpinelloides Corky-fruited Water-dropwort
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Plantago major Greater Plantain
Potentilla reptans Creeping Cinquefoil
Ranunculus acris Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock
Senecio jacobaea Common Ragwort
Sisymbrium officinale Hedge Mustard
Smyrnium olusatrum Alexanders
Stellaria graminea Lesser Stitchwort
Symphytum tuberosum White Comfrey
Tanacetum vulgare Tansy
Taraxacum agg Dandelion
Tragapogon pratensis Goat’s-beard
Trifolium pratensis Red Clover
Trifolium repens White Clover
Urtica dioica Common Nettle
Vicia cracca Tufted Vetch
Vicia sativa Common Vetch
Grasses (14)
Agrostis capillaris Common Bent
Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent
Alopecurus pratensis Meadow Foxtail
Anisantha sterilis Barren Brome
Arrhenatherum elatius False Oat-grass
Dactylis glomerata Cock’s-foot
Elytrigia repens Common Couch
Festuca arundinacea Tall Fescue
Festuca rubra Red Fescue
Holcus lanatus Yorkshire-fog
Hordeum murinum Wall Barley
Hordeum secalinum Meadow Barley
Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass
Phleum pratense Timothy
Our latest scavenger hunt is available from the café. The flowers maybe a little scarcer this week as it isn’t long since the green flag inspection lots of them were mown in favour of ‘amenity’ grass.
You can also print here and cut so you have four separate sheets.
(right click opens in new window for printing on my computer!)
The 45th Hilly Fields Midsummer Fayre, Saturday 22 June 2019
12 noon to 5pm
VOLUNTEER
The Brockley Society still need volunteers! As always, the fayre is run entirely by volunteers. They need nearly 120 volunteers on rotas on the day. Many different roles for varied skills and time commitments at:
www.brockleysociety.org.uk/hilly-fields-midsummer-fayre/
or express your interest by emailing: volunteer@brockleysociety.org.uk
