Cornmill Meadows – five years on

It’s been five years since Cornmill Meadows was officially designated a local wildlife site by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, so this is a good chance to reflect on all the work achieved by volunteers and enjoyed by the community.

One of the first of many activities that volunteers helped with was one bright, but cold winter’s day. We were thrilled that over 40 volunteers turned up on that Saturday morning to help plant about 900 whips down Meadows Way, the main track down from London Road. A mixed community orchard was then planted at the top end of Hill Meadow and this is its third season. This year’s drought has meant there is not as much fruit as we would have hoped.

Shipston Brownies and Rainbows helped us to create a bug hotel in Hill Meadow and bat and bird boxes have also been installed. There are two corrugated sheets laid on the ground to attract invertebrates who like to shelter under them.

Monthly guided bird walks have seen or heard 50 species in the past year. Surveys by Warwickshire Butterfly Conservation have shown that eggs have been laid in the new hedge.

Trees donated by Shipston residents have been planted in the lower part of Hill Meadow. A dead hedge was created using the brash when an old hedge was professionally laid to promote new growth for nature’s wildlife corridor. In River Meadow, after the creeping thistle had mostly been removed, a group of volunteers planted wildflower seeds after the field had been harrowed. A scrape and butterfly bank were also created to further increase biodiversity by adding new habitats. Unfortunately, with no rain in the summer, the scrape remained empty, unlike other years when we’ve seen the Pig Brook in flood.

After remedial work to the footpath at the top of Meadows Way, we are hoping it will not get so muddy this winter.

We believe Cornmill Meadows is a real asset to the town and enjoyed by many people. What do you think, and what would you like to see there in the future? Please let Councillor Hilary Kelly know.  hilary.kelly@shipstontowncouncil.org