St Mary Bourne School Children help out at Hirst Meadow
Last autumn, the children of the Sycamore Class at St. Mary Bourne School rolled up their sleeves and embarked on a mission to help nature thrive. Their project? A thoughtful and hands-on effort to restore balance in the Hirst Meadow by planting yellow rattle seeds—small, unassuming seeds with a big ecological purpose.
Yellow rattle is known for its unique ability to suppress dominant grasses, especially in richer soils, allowing a wider variety of wildflowers to flourish. With this in mind, Rose and Caroline from Sustainable Bourne Valley took great care in organizing the area. The meadow was carefully divided into 13 tidy sections using painted bamboo canes and tape, transforming the grassy space into a patchwork of possibility.
Glass jars were filled with a calculated mix of sand and yellow rattle seeds, ready for sowing. Teaspoons served as mixing tools to ensure the seeds were evenly spread as the children worked. The students took on the task with admirable precision, treating their role as meadow stewards with the utmost seriousness. Watching their careful efforts, it was impossible not to feel a sense of hope that these seeds would find their way and take root.
But that wasn’t all. The children also added to the bank’s charm by planting more crocuses, a promise of purple and white blooms to come each spring. The planting day was as much about cultivating patience and care as it was about ecology.
To bolster their efforts, the school also invested in yellow rattle plugs—young plants ready for transplanting—specifically for the more stubborn, grass-dominated patches. These were planted in February, offering a helping hand where the seeds might struggle on their own.
As spring turns to summer, we’ll be watching closely to see if the yellow rattle begins to take hold—and if so, we’ll know that the children’s care and commitment have already made a lasting difference.
SBV is grateful to the children of St Mary Bourne School, who over the last few years have helped to transform this piece of unused land into an area of wildlife and natural beauty.
Stay tuned for updates as our little meadow continues its quiet metamorphosis.
