Adams Bottom recreation ground is situated between the road Adams Bottom (to the right of Plantation Road, going north) and Heath Road.
In 2013 we were approached by Leighton Linslade Town Council to create a wildflower area, to try and emulate the Clipstone Brook site in Parsons Close that has planting along the stream. An area of poor quality ground near the children’s playground was identified as being suitable for planting wildflowers, which flower best in poor soil.
There are three areas that have been planted: by the pond, along the stream and near the wall at the Heath Road end.
Planting the first area
In April 2014, volunteers from Waitrose, Spencer Rail and children from Heathwood Lower School helped to dig up the areas beside the wall and along the stream in preparation for planting wild flowers.
For the wall area we used a Pictorial Meadows seed mix, with the addition of scabious, marjoram and primrose plants from the Community Tree Trust. We also planted crocuses for spring colour and nectar, but as they failed to grow they may have been lifted and eaten.
The marjoram began to establish well, but oxeye daisies and couch grass began to take over, as they have at a number of other sites round the town. Over time, marjoram, knapweed, St John’s wort, wild geranium, birds foot trefoil and scabious have established well.
We keep plant stems through the winter as they provide valuable hibernation and nesting spots for earwigs, beetles, ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies, while the tussocky grass nearby provides shelter for bumble bees.
Pond planting
In 2014 we planted wild angelica, marsh marigold, water mint and hemp agrimony for the pond. The primroses by the edge of the pond that we planted have established, and the marsh marigold is quite spectacular in early spring. Willow herb did initially take over – however it’s a good late summer nectar source for bees.
We also planted wayfaring trees and spindle on the bank by the eastern boundary of the park to increase biodiversity.
Planting the stream
The stream area has proved to be a real challenge because of the very hard clay which dries out completely. This makes it hard to establish wildflowers. The area is also prone to couch and silverweed, which smothers any wildflowers that do survive.
We first planted the area in 2014 and then again in 2015. Some evening primrose, aquilegia, and hedge woundwort have established.
The only option to clear the couch grass roots was to dig up part of the stream banks. The Town Council kindly brought in their digger and helped to clear the banks of most of the turf. Some turf was left where wildflowers were establishing well. We replanted the new area.
It’s always a challenge to establish wild flowers on stream and river banks; it took a long time to establish wild flowers at Clipstone Brook in Parsons Close due to nettles and grass smothering the plants.
Community benefit
As part of the project we visited Heathwood School to give a presentation on bees. Since then the pupils have produced large displays about bees, a play about bees, and they performed a bees’ waggle dance when Lord De Mauley, the then Environment Minister, came to visit Leighton in July 2014.
We also created survey sheets to help the children identify the main trees, shrubs and wildflowers at Adams Bottom.
Keep an eye on our events page for more information about upcoming work parties or awareness days.