Wissett Biodiversity Network
Hay Cutting
We are very lucky to have a high number of intact meadows in this parish, some of which date back many decades.
These meadows support a huge range of local wildlife and require careful management in order to maximise their biodiversity potential.
Hay cutting is a very traditional method of managing meadows and is carried out on a rotational basis, some cut earlier to reduce grass species dominance and allow wildflowers to thrive, and others left much later in the year to prolong the habitat for the many insects/birds and mammals which rely on them. This later cut also allows more wildflower seed to successfully establish for next years growth.
We are currently mapping the meadows in the parish and developing a annual hay cutting schedule with maximises the potential of this wildlife resource.
Wissett Biodiversity Network
Meadow Surveys
As part of the wider biodiversity strategy, the important first steps are to record what we have here in the village in order to understand the best ways to preserve and enhance.
This summer we have been fortunate to have had an experienced botanist, associated with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, to carry out surveys of many of our historic meadows we have. We are currently collating the data and will be submitting the findings in due course.
Wissett Community Working Group
Traditional Hedge Laying
Our first community project was a great success and resulted in an unmanaged and scraggly hedge being transformed into a beautiful laid hedgerow. This traditional method of hedgerow management is far more beneficial for biodiversity than modern machinery techniques.
John Ibbott, a local expert, kindly took the time to pass on his knowledge and expertise to our wonderful volunteers, with a view that we can look at other local hedgerows, managing them in a similarly wildlife friendly way.
