Cuckoo Catches the Cutters!:The heavy rains of late winter and spring of the last few years has meant that the commencement of the grass cutting regime for the Village Green has been pushed back until the ground is firm enough for the tractors to get on to it without getting bogged down. The reality of this is that cutting, which could commence as early as March or April does not now occur until late May. Although this disappoints some villagers, it cannot be helped.

However, looking on the positive side there has been at least one ecological benefit which has derived from the pattern of late cutting. A relatively rare plant, which had nearly disappeared, the Cuckoo Flower, is now re-establishing itself on both greens and the Hoppit. This plant is a native of wet meadowlands of which the village green is an example.

The Corporation of London is very keen to protect this plant. They also hope that other rare seeds may be encouraged to germinate if the area is not cut until they have developed and produced their seed.

Although mowing will hopefully have commenced by the time you read this article, the Parish Council have agreed to set aside three areas on the two greens which will not be cut until early July. The top green (opposite the village hall) will be mown all around the edge of the greens to give access to seats and a broad swathe will be cut across the middle and opposite the village and church halls. This will allow for the area traditionally used by the Baptist Church youth groups for games on suitable summer evenings and for limited parking for Open Gardens Day. An area bordering on the 'The Green' opposite the cottages and bordering on the ditch running to the Pond will also be left. These areas will be marked by Corporation of London signposts. It is currently intended that this Green will be used as the main car park on Open Gardens day.

All this grass will eventually be cut by the Corporation of London in early July. They will clear the cut grass at the same time with their special equipment and it will from that point on be cut to the usual mowing rota.

This is an experiment in conservation to see how it goes and indeed to present the village green as a village green should be. It is hoped that by allowing the grasses and wild flowers to grow and seed naturally, we will also encourage wildlife as well in the form of butterflies and moths, thus restoring a more rural aspect to our village green in early summer.

Horticultural Note:
The Cuckoo Flower or Cardamine pratensis and it is a medium hairless perennial, sometimes tufted, with root leaves forming a rosette. The stem leaves are dissimilar. The flowers are variable,12-20 mm, lilac or white with yellow anthers from April to June. It likes damp places.

The Conservators of the forest want parts of the greens to be left uncut so that the it can seed itself. As a result parts of the green will be set aside as conservation areas to encourage wild flowers. The strange cutting pattern on the greens is the result. Some like it, some don't. Let us have your vote.