Broadacre estate

Adjacent to the Spinney is a mound made up of debris from the former chrysanthemum nursery.  Each winter we cut back the brambles that would smother it and let a new cycle of herbaceous growth take place.

It starts with snowdrops but is soon largely taken over by comfrey and nettles.  Both of these are excellent for wildlife, especially in such a sheltered, sunny position.

Nettles are food for the vanessid butterflies such as peacocks, commas and tortoiseshells.  The comfrey flowers are a favourite of bumblebees, while the leaves are fed on by the scarlet tiger moth.