What To Do This Month In Your Paddocks
Remain vigilant against ragwort and other undesirable weeds
• Collect grass seed from un-cut traditional pasture margins. When the ground is wet, rake the seed into bare patches where weeds have been removed. This prevents the need to buy in different grass species.
• At the end of August, margins which are not grazed may undergo an annual cut to stop scrub establishing.
• Clear ditches now whilst they are dry!
• Do you store equipment inconspicuously and safely? This will reduce the likelihood of theft, prevent items imposing on the landscape and can increase equipment’s lifespan. Use natural folds in the landscape and shelterbelts to your advantage.
• Do you have light or brightly coloured equipment and implements in and around pasture? White electric tape, brightly coloured water buckets, old white enamel bath tubs and other coloured equipment lead to a cluttered, eyesore appearance in the
landscape. Darker colours, which occur naturally in the landscape (e.g. green/brown/black etc), draw less attention and blend with surrounding features.
Surrey Horse Pasture Project • www.surreycc.gov.uk/horsepastureproject • Tel: 01372 741783
Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty • www.kentdowns.org.uk • Tel: 01303 815170
Photo: Kent Downs AONB
Text: Kent Downs AONB & Surrey Horse Pasture Project
