We Made a Wildflower Meadow

by Yvette Verner

Overview

Inspired by the idea of doing something positive for their local environment, Yvette Verner and her husband Mike bought a small field close to their home in the south of England. With the bountiful assistance of nature they created a flower meadow which attracts a rich variety of wildlife, including badgers, deer and a multitude of birds and butterflies. In this book Yvette tells the story of their meadow: how they designed the layout, selected and planted wild flowers, trees and hedges and spent many absorbing hours wildlife-watching. Meadows such as theirs support large populations of plants, insects, birds and other animals, and are extremely important in maintaining the ecological diversity of our countryside. Many meadow species that farmers and gardeners consider to be weeds are host to other forms of wildlife: the modest oxeye daisy alone supports over twenty species of insect!

"The meadow is still flourishing and each year is delightful and different. It is particularly wonderful to see our four grandchildren enjoying it so much."

- Mike Verner, Yvette's husband

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857845245
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/12/2019
Edition description:	Second Edition,Second edition
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.05(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Yvette Verner and her husband have loved and cared for half an acre of meadow in East Sussex for many years. She donates half her royalties from this book to Plantlife International, the leading charity dedicated to the conservation of wild plants in their natural habitats.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 6

Introduction 9

1 Finding our Meadow 13

2 Soil 19

3 Trees 23

4 Wild Flowers 31

5 Hedges &c Fences 45

6 Meadow Furniture 51

7 Haymaking 55

8 Blackthorn & Hazel Copse 61

9 Birds 67

10 Mammals, Reptiles & Amphibians 73

11 Insects 87

12 Schoolchildren's Visits 91

13 Meadow Crafts 95

14 Record-keeping 105

15 Meadow Calendar 109

Appendix 1 Species of British meadow flowers, grasses, trees, shrubs & butterflies 122

Appendix 2 Species of North American meadow flowers, grasses, trees, shrubs & butterflies 127

Index 133

Editorial Reviews

A guidebook rolled up into a love letter… Filled with the rhythms of the meadow and the creatures and plants that find a home there.” —Jane Powers, award-winning author of The Living Garden

“This book, full of practical conservation advice, opens the door to the mighty adventure of creating a meadow. It's about being playful, hopeful, and sharing and celebrating the extraordinary things which can happen.” —Eden Project, The National Wildflower Centre

From the Publisher