Pretty soon I am going to have to drive a five ton forklift down this slope, but I am leaving cutting the foliage down until the last minute. I feel so guilty about depriving all the insects of their food source and even guiltier about what I have to do to the flowers. What is worse - crushing them with the huge wheels or swiftly getting rid of the lot with a sickle?
I learned recently that a single bee creates just one teaspoonful of honey in its short lifetime.
and one Mason Bee does the pollination work of 120 honey bees
ReplyDeleteIs that the bee which digs holes in masonry mortar?
DeleteYes it is, so not every ones's favourite because of that. Apparently, out of the 280 native bees species in this country, apart from producing honey, honey bees are well down the pecking order when it comes to being efficient pollinators.
DeleteFroming a farmers perspective I would drive the forklift through the long stuff and you won't know anything has been through it in no time. You could scythe it down and get hot and sweaty but on balance I would probably go for driving through it.
ReplyDeleteI would, but if I let the vegetation grow too unkempt people think the place is abandoned and there is more vandalism and attempted break-ins.
DeleteGood point.
DeleteI think Rachel's advice is sensible. As she says, in no time everything will spring back up and the bees will be happy again.
ReplyDeleteSee what I said to Rachel about it.
DeleteBuy some wild flower seeds and scatter them in the tread marks afterwards
ReplyDeleteNice idea, but impractical.
DeleteIt is beautiful, but I see why you have to cut it.
ReplyDeleteOn our No Mow half of the front lawn we have wild orchids
We have orchids here too but you have to hunt for them in the long grass.
DeleteI can't see the photo. But if you are going to do something do it, don't forget hay meadows can take several cuts a year.
ReplyDeleteIt's a video.
DeleteCan you maintain a generous footpath and allow the rest to grow and flower? Additionally, clearing a spot for a flowering tree would provide more support the honey bees. I am told over-use of chemicals has destroyed hives and the honey supply is down.
ReplyDeleteI need to drive large vehicles down there quite a lot.
DeleteAnd - once cleared - it is a tight fit for a car or forklift.
DeleteWhich is more valuable to you, your income or your honey?
ReplyDeleteI don't have much of either right now.
DeleteA question of balance.
ReplyDeleteSelf interest versus protecting nature.
Here I saw this year many garden-lawns covered with beautiful dandelions. But now many people cut them: Bavaria is known for the dangerous (because infected) ticks.
So: let the plants thrive as long as possible - then think of yourself too.
We have those ticks too.
DeleteI am still stunned by the image of you on that vehicle - a picture would be brilliant please.
ReplyDeleteI fell out with the owner so now he doesn't let me drive his Tonka Toy. He is a child.
Delete