We have recently heard from the Friends of Hillsborough, Ilfracombe, who have been busy meadow making. With the help of volunteers from Turnstyle Designs, friends from the Finding Nature's Footprints initiative, and with the help of a flail cutter provided by the North Devon Parks team, the group made excellent progress on expanding their wildflower meadow at Hillsborough. Have a read of their update below.

"On yet another beautiful "Indian summer" day, we made excellent progress on maintaining and expanding our wildflower meadow at Hillsborough. The weather couldn’t have been better for this rewarding work.

Joining us once again were Jamie and a colleague from the Finding Nature’s Footprints team (part of North Devon Coastal Landscapes), along with two new volunteers from Turnstyle Designs Ltd. based in Barnstaple. We’re grateful to Turnstyle Designs for supporting our efforts and to the volunteers for lending their time to enhance this special site!
 

With the North Devon Parks team’s flail cutter, skillfully handled by Pete, we tackled the right side of the “Ski Slope” and widened the path leading up to it. We managed to rake and clear about half of the newly cut area and will complete the rest next month. The initial clearance for meadow creation is always the hardest, as the well-established scrub and grasses require considerable effort to remove. However, this work will be well worth it as the meadow flourishes, eventually becoming a sight visible across Ilfracombe and a delight for everyone visiting Hillsborough.

Today, we also sowed local heather seeds around the small outcrop that needs a bit of encouragement to thrive. Some seeds were taken to propagate heather plugs, which will be planted next year to further support this delicate habitat. Additionally, with the generous support of the National Trust, we sowed more of the precious and impactful Yellow Rattle, an essential wildflower for meadow diversity. And thanks to the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Big Autumn Sow initiative, we also had a lovely variety of wildflower seeds to plant, helping us bring more vibrant life to the meadow in the seasons to come.

We’re thrilled to be working with such dedicated partners and to be part of a growing network of local organizations committed to enhancing our natural spaces. 

Thank you to everyone involved and to those who continue supporting the Friends of Hillsborough in making this local beauty spot a haven for wildlife and our community."