Big flow in The River Roe today @causewaystudios.com @causewaypictures.bsky.social

Great UK water blitz citizen sampling results coming in . River Roe running past Limavady looking to have low healthy nutrients levels. www.freshwaterwatch.org/pages/great-...

Interesting results from the citizen sampling water watch . Portadown and craigavon lakes showing high nutrient levels . More results will appear on the live map www.freshwaterwatch.org/pages/great-...

Wildlife still in the garden feeding on slugs and old apples from the mini orchard. A healthy looking fat Hesgehog visiting regularly for the last week @biodata.bsky.social @biodata.pt

Finally decided to cut one section of my meadow with the sythe . Then check for frogs (x10 of various sizes) to relocate to a safe spot and finally mow. Some seeds also collected to pot up and germinate to increase late flowering Devils bit scabious @plantlife.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social

July meadow . Early purple orchids seeds maturing . They are like dust but with further investigation using a x40 lens on my microscope you can see them more clearly . @donnarainey4.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @orchids.bsky.social

More images of my meadow

Garden meadow mid July . Orchids are starting to go into seed. Knapweed and Field Scabious coming into flower . Meadow definitely looking more brown but the flowers that are in bloom almost use this as a contrast to be more clearly seen to pollinators and really stand out @donnarainey4.bsky.social

I know that there are many reasons for this but in my biased head the reason that these long eared owls appeared was all because of my field and garden meadow.🤣Hunting for mice.No matter what the reason it is really a privilege to see & hear these birds @rspbni.bsky.social @donnarainey4.bsky.social

Garden meadow -Late June. Ox eye daisys starting go to seed . Yellow rattle seed heads rattling in the wind and orchids now the most visually prominent flower @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @donnarainey4.bsky.social @irishrainforest.bsky.social @irishwildlifetrust.bsky.social @cedarni.bsky.social

Mid June The wild flower meadow is in full glory - yellow rattle starting to seed but the top dogs of the meadow the orchids are showing off

Early June. Most flowers out some fading going to seed (ragged robin & yellow rattle) and other species like orchids just emerging . The next 3 weeks is the peak of my early cut meadow (mid August). The late cut meadow still has flowers to emerge @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @donnarainey4.bsky.social

Livestock can benefit from tree planting. These 3 trees ( + others )were planted around the perimeter of the field 20 yes ago and the sheep have 100% voted with their feet. . PS no loss of productivity of the field either @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social

Insects and amphibians in my meadow from today

My pond is reaping plenty ofnrewards to the extent the Heron took 2 adult frogs the other day @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @withpondlife.bsky.social

My garden lawn meadow mid may. Lots of new species flowering ragged Robin/ field buttercup/ Self heal/ yellow rattle . and frogs spotted and nectar loving insects in abundance @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @donnarainey4.bsky.social @rspbni.bsky.social

1st week of May and the meadows are starting to full outwith growth. More important , clear signs of what is coming in the weeks ahead - currently in bloom self heal , dandelion and early purple orchid . Common spotted getting close to flowering. Roll on the next few months

Huge contrast between the biodiversity created in a native broadleaf woodland and the plantations of sitka spruce which lack any relative biodiversity

Bluebells well out at The Roe Valley Country Park near Limavady

What a day , what a beautiful country we live in

Wildflower meadow - April So last cut of lawn 2 qeeks ago . Lots of seedlings growing including yellow rattle . First flowers dandelions , early purple orchid and cuckoo flower.

March - First bit of heat in the season and plants and grass starting to grow . Early purple orchid well under way . Yellow rattle seeds starting to germinate- natures meadow maker as yellow ratyle is semi parisitic on grass. This reduces grass growth but encourages light to the soil and wildflowers

This year i am going to plot the annual cycle of my wild flower meadow. I will also guide people through how i manage my lawn meadow to get the most biodiversity. Here is a glimpse of what should reappear and what to expect

First frog spawn