Hexham Space for Nature has looked after the border in the Sele since 2020, from the steps near The Fox Pub, and down toward Sele House. We have also worked with NCC’s officers to allow grass to grow long in selective areas on the Sele itself, and have plug-planted some of this area.
The Woodland Walk is getting established, and increasingly varied throughout the year, from snowdrops and wild garlic in February and March, to hellebore, foxgloves, ferns, bellflowers and much more later in the season. We are beginning to remove some ferns where they are crowding out other species, but the ground elder, brambles and dandelions are much less obvious more recently.
The Paris Quadrifolia was seen in flower earlier this year
and now with its distinctive seedhead
We have an established clump of nettle-leaved bellflower
The Sweet Woodruff is getting established in clumps along the border
and the Herb Robert is doing its thing undisturbed (though beginning to suffer from the bindweed)
In the grasslands along the west side of the park, we have noticed some clumps of Common Yarrow and some Hedge Bedstraw we plug planted in the Woodland Walk
while elsewhere in the long grass, folk with good eyes have seen: birdsfoot trefoil (not pictured), and Common Selfheal with its lovely blue flowers.
As summer progresses the spectacular “Lords and Ladies” or Arum Maculatum appear to brighten up the border.
At the glade between the Sele and Hexham House a good spring and early summer gave some great sightings on our floriferous border. Topped by the beautiful yellow brimstone butterfly that flittered through one day as we were working in early April.
There’s always lots of interest and positive feedback whenever we are there, but particularly during the Hexham Hidden Gardens walkabout.
Very welcome new signs will hopefully attract some new blood to the volunteer group. We have recruited one new keen volunteer and this has allowed us to start another round of tidying up and increasing diversity in the Sensory Garden by Hexham House. A beautiful quiet and sunny corner of the park which provides a good horticultural challenge. The teasels we left last year have flowered well and were covered in a lots of different bees.
New gardeners are very welcome, no experience required!
