Increasing grazing biodiversity.

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springer-tb

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Hello, I am planning to buy a house with stables and grazing (there are a few on a shortlist at the moment). The paddocks they all have are very much 'green pasture' (thankfully not very, very rich grass). I would like to try and grow wild flowers and other grasses for the benefit of the horses.
Does anyone have experience of this? Is it even possible? Am I stupid for considering this?

Thanks for any suggestions!
 
Try contacting the local Wildlife Trust, as the most suitable species will be those that thrive in your local area.

It is possible but it is a long-term project.
 
catkin said:
Try contacting the local Wildlife Trust, as the most suitable species will be those that thrive in your local area.

It is possible but it is a long-term project.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I hadn't thought of doing this. I'm hoping to be there until I die, so that should be pretty long term 😂
 
Meadow mania mixes are great, and also naturescape, although check those for horse suitable plants.

Management can be key, letting the grass be able to seed each year (traditional hay meadows are cut around june), not letting any areas get rank by becoming toilet zones, so you need to poo pick or rotate, harrow and rest.

A great way to introduce new species is to grow in a pot and then slot seed in to areas. Species like yellow rattle parasitise dominant grasses and are horse safe so they are great as help with improving the biodiversity.

And hedgerows, plant some native mix hedgerows, hawthorn, field maple, hazel, dog rose etc
 
I have been 'neglecting' a hill meadow for nearly thirty years and it took nearly twenty years to overcome decades of active management and restore a wildflower meadow. I get a thrill now every time I go out and catch the horses with the variety of herbs, grass and flowers in my field. For the first time this year I have some bluebells. Last year's newcomers were harebells, my absolute favourite.

I spot kill dock and dig out ragwort and thistle. I kick over the molehills to stop it getting too bumpy to walk on. Other than that, I do nothing, but I do have only two horses and a tiny on over ten acres, which is also key, I think.

If you have a big enough area, I recommend leaving the toilet areas. The horses don't eat it when better stuff is available, and it grows long and undisturbed. I have some of my best patches in the loo areas. Plus you don't need to poopick!
 
It depends on what you have around you-I am surrounded by moorland and rough grazing-I have harebells, speedwell, flax, both types of vetch, foxgloves, lupins, forget me not, mustard and lots of tiny flowers that I try and identify every year and chickweed this year unfortunately! Don't constantly poo pick without putting something back in, dont overgraze, rest often-have a look at equicentral methods.
 
Over thirty years my paddocks particularly the summer ones have transformed they are full of different plants .
Sadly we have lost the orchids I think perhaps the horses ate them .
The violets have increased every year on the backs under the hedges they are spectacular now .
All I have done is not spray except in a very targeted way and very infrequently
 
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'm dreaming of lush natural meadows to graze my horses on 🌻
Just need to buy one of the houses now!
 
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if you notice a particulally rich flower meadow locally you could buy some hay made from it and scatter it on your fields to increase species. yellow rattle can be introduced this way as can other speices of plants. its cost effective and they are likely to grow as they are already local to the area.
 
I have been through this with a local meadow trust. Seeding, and even planting has limited effect whilst the soil is still rich, and the grass sward is in tact. You need to make the soil poorer by taking away matter - making hay, for example - the opposite of fertilising, really.

In addition, if you disturb the soil, whether by scarifying, or just putting something on it to cut up the turf (like a horse, say), the seeds of wild flowers will be present in the soil and take advantage of the opportunity, just as nature intended.

Good luck. I have my ponies on crappy, biodiverse meadow, and they do very well on it.
 
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