Last week in Rye News we reported on plans for wildflower meadow planting on Rye’s Iron Salts. The article was widely discussed, not least on what the piece of land is actually called. Rye’s Deputy Mayor Pat Hughes says wildflowers can be part of the solution, but the land needs just simple mowing to allow locals and visitors to enjoy a much loved open space in the town centre.
I’m in favour of looking towards the wildflower planting being the understory to the orchard. This (the site of the putting green) was where Rye’s Wildflower Meadow Trust (I am one of the Trustees) was planning to install a small wildflower meadow. Initially Rother District Council was very keen but objections (by locals), including that such planting would spoil the look of the Salts, resulted in them turning down the proposal. Subsequently, Rother’s adoption of not mowing the Iron Salts created a horrible sight which was downright dangerous in the hot summer.
The state of the Iron Salts has been discussed by Rye Town Council and one of our key concerns was the loss of an area where people, old and young, could be active (who remembers playing football there?) or not (picnics or simply lazing about). We protested about failure to reinstate the goal posts (unlike on Bexhill’s Downs) and eventually a small goalpost was put in place on the Fair Salts. But the Fair Salts are not appropriate for casual activities; even though fairs are not as frequent as pre-Covid, they do still come (and the goalpost is removed) and this is still where Rye Bonfire takes place each November. Although the Society works hard at the clear up and the reseeding of the bonfire area it is very much dictated by the weather, and was very late this year with the heavy rain continuing into March.
The Rye Wildflower Meadow Trust was impressed by the work of Nigel Dunnett (remember the wonderful meadows at the Olympic Park?). Although an agricultural meadow could have a 80%/20% grass/flower mix he created seed mixes with little or no grass to avoid it inhibiting the flowers (especially on nutrient rich soils).
Rother DC’s decision to stop mowing the Iron Salts simply allowed grasses, particularly strong coarse ones, to proliferate and dominate. Please can the Iron Salts be simply regularly mowed, goal posts replaced and allowed to be a space for people to please themselves.
As for wild flowers, surely creating an understory for the orchard would be of huge benefit bringing bees, butterflies and other pollinators. The Rye Wildflower Meadow Trust would be happy to support it.
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Image Credits: Vic Vicarey .