We’ve just had the first task day of 2024. Thank you so much to our small band of helpers who spent the morning strimming and raking off the cut grass at the eastern end of the chalk pit. What a difference this makes to the banks in particular. We are building on the work we have done in the past 3 years or so. The short grass allows the chalk grassland flowers to grow and thrive as they can’t compete in long grass. Last year we saw an increase in several of these chalk grassland flowers including rampions (the Sussex flower), small scabious, birdsfoot trefoil and kidney vetch to name but a few. These in turn brought in a good selection of butterflies – in particular the small blues that we have been trying to attract. Now we wait to see what will happen this year. Oh, and by the way we were informed by the amphibian and reptile conservation group that putting the grass cuttings under bushes is great for reptiles.
If you would like to help us in our endeavours to improve the chalk pit even further, why not come along and help? On the next task day we will be raking the western end. It is very satisfying to see the neater banks and knowing that the flowers and butterflies are being given a chance. The raking isn’t too hard and will help with that post Christmas fitness. The next session is on 18 February, 10:00 at Mill Road car park.
Friends of Lancing Ring 