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Tag Archives: Meadows

Scything Workshop

Knucklas Castle Community Land Project Posted on 26 August 2010 by Kevin5 February 2015

Scything in Knucklas

Our two fields now have allotments and a community orchard, but there’s still plenty of grass not covered by vegetables or fruit trees. Even the wildest wild flower meadow needs cutting once a year to stop it running to scrub and then woodland – just look at the picture of the castle hill from 1910. Where there are now trees, were then open fields and hedges, before becoming neglected.

This year we thought we would try our hands at scything, to do our bit to help revive country skills which is part of our remit, particularly as it doesn’t rely on fossil fuels to get the job done. What could be more idyllic than on a hot summers day to see a line of figures  swaying rhythmically as they make their way across a field of waving grass scattered with wild flowers and butterflies!

 We were extremely fortunate to receive a grant from Powys Environmental Partnerships (they helped fund the orchard planting last year) to buy some scythes and help pay for a one day scything workshop on the same day as our allotment open day. The workshop was delivered by Andrea Gilpin from Caring for God’s Acre, a charity that looks after old churchyards. A small number of dedicated people signed up for the workshops, but many more stopped to watch and listen as they were coming or going to the allotments and some joined in and had a go. The scythes used were lighter than the traditional old english designs, being based on a design from  switzerland. Although scything is not effortless, with the right technique it’s not too arduous and is clearly effective, cutting the grass close to the ground. Apparently August is not the best month for making hay as much of the goodness has gone out of the grass by then and in places the grass is starting to go over and lie flat, making it harder to cut. Andrea also pointed out that in the past, haymakers would start work at five in the morning when the sward contained more moisture – before the sun would make it start to wilt – which is when scything is at its best – but I think we’ll have to do a lot of persuading to get Knucklas up at that time to mow a meadow! We also learned how to sharpen and look after the scythes – and hopefully how to use them safely, as they are absolutely razor sharp.

Many thanks to Andrea and Mark for running this event and making it so enjoyable and thanks also to Powys Environmental Partnerships for making it possible. We only cut a small part of the fields this way, but who knows, perhaps next year we’ll get up early, line up across the field and quietly make hay, while the sun shines!

Tagged making hay, Meadows, Scythes, Scything, workshop

Knucklas Castle Botanical Survey 22/10/2009

Knucklas Castle Community Land Project Posted on 24 November 2009 by Kevin5 February 2015

Knucklas Castle Botanical Survey 22/10/2009

Survey conducted by the Radnorshire County Plant Recorders
Liz Dean and Sue Spencer.

Thank you.

Castle Area

Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Achillea millefolium Yarrow
Agrostis capillaries Common Bent
Aira caryophyllea Silvery Hair-grass
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet vernal-grass
Aphanes arvensis agg. Parsley-piert
Campanula rotundifolia Harebell
Cardamine hirsute Hairy Bitter-cress
Carex caryophyllea Spring Sedge
Carex muricata ssp.lamprocarpa Prickly Sedge
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Crepis capillaries Smooth Hawksbeard
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
Erophila verna ssp. verna Common Whitlow-grass
Festuca rubra agg. Red Fescue
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Galium saxatile Heath Bedstraw
Galium verum Lady’s Bedstraw
Geranium molle Dove’s-foot Cranesbill
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell
Lathyrus pratensis Meadow Vetchling
Linum catharticum Fairy Flax
Lotus corniculatus Common Birdsfoot-trefoil
Luzula campestris Field Woodrush
Malva sylvestris Common Mallow
Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Pimpinella saxifrage Burnet Saxifrage
Poa annua Meadow-grass
Potentilla erecta Tormentil
Potentilla sterilis Barren Strawberry
Ranunculus bulbosus Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Rumex acetosa Common Sorrel
Rumex acetosella agg. Sheep’s Sorrel
Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort
Taraxacum agg. Dandelion
Thymus polytrichus ssp.britannicus Wild Thyme
Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil
Ulex europaeus Gorse
Urtica dioica Common  Nettle
Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
Veronica officinalis Heath Speedwell
Viola riviniana Common Dog Violet
Vulpia bromoides Squirrel-tail fescue

Woodland
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Adoxa moschatellina Moschatel
Alliaria petiolata Jack-by-the-hedge
Arctium minus subsp.minus Lesser Burdock
Arum maculatum Cuckoo Pint
Asplenium trichomanes ssp. quad. Maidenhair Spleenwort
Brachypodium sylvaticum False Brome
Cardamine hirsute Hairy Bittercress
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Cerastium glomeratum Sticky Mouse-ear
Circaea lutetiana Enchanter’s Nightshade
Corylus avellana Hazel
Dryopteris affinis Scaly Male Fern
Dryopteris dilitata Broad Buckler-fern
Dryopteris filix-mas sens.str. Male Fern
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Galium aparine Cleavers
Geranium robertianum Herb Robert
Geum urbanum Wood Avens
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy
Hedera helix Ivy
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Hyacinthoides non-scripta Bluebell
Lapsana communis Nipplewort
Larix kaempferi Japanese Larch
Malus domestica Apple
Meconopsis cambrica Welsh Poppy
Mercurialis perennis Dog’s Mercury
Moehringia trinervia Three-nerved Sandwort
Orchis mascula Early Purple Orchid
Phyllitis scolopendrium Hart’s-tongue Fern
Polypodium species. Polypody
Potentilla sterilis Tormentil
Primula vulgaris Primrose
Prunus domesticus Wild Plum
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn
Pteridium aquilinum Bracken
Quercus petraea Sessile Oak
Ranunculus ficaria Lesser Celandine
Ribes uva-crispa Gooseberry
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
Sambucus nigra Elder
Senecio vulgaris Groundsel
Silene dioica Common Nettle
Stellaria holostea Greater Stitchwort
Stellaria media Common Chickweed
Stellaria uliginosa Bog Stitchwort
Taraxacum agg. Dandelion
Teucrium scorodonia Wood Sage
Ulmus glabra Wych Elm
Umbilicus rupestris Wall Pennywort
Urtica dioica Common Nettle
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
Veronica hederifolia ssp. hed. Ivy-leaved Speedwell
Vicia sepium Wood Vetch
Viola riviniana Common Dog Violet

Clearing

Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass
Aphanes arvensis agg. Parsley Piert
Cardamine hirsute Hairy Bittercress
Carex caryophyllea Spring Sedge
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Cirsium vulgare Spear Thistle
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove
Galium saxatile Heath Bedstraw
Galium verum Lady’s Bedstraw
Lotus corniculatus Common Birdsfoot-trefoil
Luzula campestris Field Woodrush
Montia fontana ssp.     fontana Blinks
Myosotis discolour Changing Forgetmenot
Pilosella officinarum Mouse-ear Hawkweed
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Potentilla erecta Tormentil
Pteridium aquilinum Bulbous Buttercup
Rumex acetosella agg. Sheep’s Sorrel
Sagina procumbens Procumbent Pearlwort
Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil
Ulex europaeus Gorse
Veronica arvensis Wall Speedwell
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
Viola riviniana Common Dog Violet

Meadows

Acer campestre Field Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore
Agrostis capillaries Common Bent
Agrostis stolonifera Creeping Bent
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet Vernal-grass
Arum maculatum Cuckoo Pint / Lords and Ladies
Cerastium fontanum Common Mouse-ear
Circaea lutetiana Enchanter’s Nightshade
Cirsium arvense Creeping Thistle
Corylus avellana Hazel
Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn
Crepis capillaries Smooth Hawksbeard
Cynosurus cristatus Crested Dog’s-tail
Dactylis glomerata Cocksfoot
Dryopteris filix-mas agg. Male Fern
Fraxinus excelsior Ash
Galium aparine Cleavers
Geum urbanum Wood Avens
Heracleum sphondylium Hogweed
Holcus lanatus Creeping Soft-grass
Hypochaeris radicata Catsear
Lolium perenne Perennial Rye-grass
Phleum pratense Timothy
Plantago lanceolata Ribwort Plantain
Prunus domestica Wild Plum
Prunus spinosa Blackthorn
Ranunculus repens Creeping Buttercup
Rubus fruticosus agg. Bramble
Rumex acetosella agg. Sheep’s Sorrel
Rumex obtusifolius Broad-leaved Dock
Stellaria media Common Chickweed
Taraxacum agg. Dandelion
Trifolium dubium Lesser Trefoil
Trifolium pratense Red Clover
Urtica dioica Stinging Nettle
Veronica chamaedrys Germander Speedwell
Veronica filiformis Slender Speedwell
Vicia sepium Bush Vetch

[Posted by Adrian & Naomi   Oct.2009]

Tagged botanical, castle, knucklas, liz dean, Meadows, Powys, river, sue spencer, survey, teme, valley, Woodland

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Apple Day 8th October 2022

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Knucklas fete 2022

Please put the date in your diary for this year and you will be entertained by the Black Crow Vikings, Dog agility & Dog shows, Children’s races, Classic cars, a Tea tent, Beer tent, BBQ, Wood-fired Pizza and many local stall holders  selling their wares.

King Arthur book

A wonderful new book has been written by one of our members for youngsters to enjoy the legend of King Arthur. Look on the Shop page to see details and purchase.

Castle hill

A new view of the castle using LiDR technology has become available, look here: LiDR survey
Many thanks to Mark Walters for this new view.

It raises some interesting questions about the way the castle has been used over the many years of its existence.

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