A gift

By Ian Bushell

idverde, working in partnership with Wiltshire Council has donated 250kg of ‘Woodland Mix’ daffodil bulbs to Parish councils, schools and community groups. idverde are the contractors who help the Countryside Team and the Friends maintain the reserve; you have probably seen their vehicles in the reserve.

Our haul was 10kg of mixed daffodil bulbs for which we are very grateful (thank you idverde!) and this week’s Wednesday work party set about planting them. Paul Ashman, Community Engagement Officer for idverdi in Wiltshire, delivered the bulbs – about 400 in all. They were of the cultivated type and needed planting straight away so that became the task for this week.

Apart from historical plantings in the Arboretum and Simpson’s Field, we have taken great care to plant only native species in the reserve. About six years ago we planted a thousand native daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) in Village Green and, more recently, several hundred in the Heritage Orchard.

Whilst there are cultivated daffodils, planted decades ago, under the veteran Oak by the main entrance, the decision was made to plant idverde’s gift only within the confines of the car park.  Thus the bulb squad – Sarah and Alan, Phil and Joan – got stuck in and planted them in clusters, and they should look very good come the spring.  A job well done.

In conversation with Paul Ashman, we explained our decision to plant the bulbs in the car park and he took on board our long-term commitment to planting only native species in the wider reserve to support its biodiversity. Again, our thanks to idverdi for their gift.

Header image: cultivated daffodils in the Arboretum (photographed by DKG in 2018)