Wild about meadows

Last summer we started a new project at Longmeadow that I suspect passed under the radar for most viewers, even though we filmed every aspect of the process so far. The truth is that there was barely then (and even now) anything to see at all. Yet it involves a dramatic, long-term change that is both really exciting, potentially beautiful and horticulturally fascinating.

This was the beginning of the process of converting the orchard to a wildflower meadow. As I write this, the wild daffodils () are budding up and will soon be flowering and, in about a month’s time, these will be followed by another raft of daffs – this time old pheasant’s eye daffodil (, see p.8). The wild daffodils were first planted at least 20 years ago and have spread very slowly – the first year we had just nine in flower – while the old pheasant’s eye were added about 10 years ago. But a display of daffodils or crocuses, snowdrops, fritillaries or any other flowering