Whilst walking through Haig Park this morning I observed the ground
layer, noting that normally by this time of the year it would have had
one or two mowings.
The structural impact of the mowing is to reduce the overall height, and
the also variations in height, in the Park.
In the absence of mowing during the drought there are some isolated
patches of higher grasss but overall the grass is low.
Nevertheless the structural diversity is higher than it is when it is
mowed regularly every normal rainfall Spring.
But wait, there's more.
Quite a few plant species in the ground layer are now going to seed.
Depending on mowing intervals in 'normal' years, seeding may be
prevented altogether.
It seems to me that a mowing program which allows for the formation of
strips and patches which are planned to go seed would be of great
benefit to our urban birds.
regards
Con
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