Linden Meadow

About

The field in Westford, next to Linden House and Linden Cottage, off Linden Hill, was purchased by Wellington Town Council in late 2021. The intention being to prevent this area from being developed and to retain it for community use. In January 2023 the council agreed to the planting of trees in the field. The name for the field was voted for by residents that came to an on-site meeting in December 2022. It’s right next to Linden House and Linden Cottage, off Linden Hill and there are 3 mature linden trees (or lime trees as they are otherwise known) on the edges. The planting included 3 more lime trees to be planted on the north side of the field to enhance those already there.

Directions

Access is via Linden Hill close to Linden Cottage TA21 0ER. You can also access via the Basins to Rockwell Green footpath. In the field nearest Rockwell Green School, walk to the corner and through the woodland to cross the railway. What3words: clays.shrugging.awestruck. Please try to walk or cycle and remember there is NO PARKING at any time on the private drive leading to the field gate.

Design

The design was for trees to be planted mainly at the top of the field to the northwest and north. This is because the field has a south-facing slope, the only one of its kind in the Green Corridor. This slope is very valuable with its potential as a wildflower meadow. The tree planting was designed so as not to shade out too much of the meadow. Some walkers like to have a feeling of open sky and space while out walking or exercising their dogs. Others like to watch the trains from the view on the hill. The creation of a woodland glade with woodland around the edge and a meadow on the slope creating the perfect habitat for butterflies (among many other invertebrates, bats and birds). Some of the tree species were chosen because they provide food for particular species of butterfly and their larvae.

Implementation

Tree planting stated in February 2023 with 131 trees being planted by more than 40 volunteers. A further 200 saplings will be added in 2024 to form a single row of hedge, which will thicken up a 60m hedge on the boundary to the thatched cottage. This hedge is currently in a poor state with few species and poor structure.

The first planting was in four areas, and there is more detail of the this in the Planting Plan section below.

Biodiversity

Creating a woodland glade around the edge and a meadow on the slope provides the perfect habitat for wildlife. Species of trees has been considered for larvae food plants for butterflies, food for birds, height and structure within a mixed woodland, and diversity to be resilient in the face of climate change. It’s also been suggested we contact the Butterfly Conservation Trust and see if this could be a designated site in the future. The meadow within the footpath loop is maintained to increase biodiversity in the grass, with the hay being cut and removed every year in late July. For example goat willow was planted near the mature oak specifically as habitat for the purple emperor butterfly and alder buckthorn was planted as the food plant of the brimstone butterfly. Also included are a few food baring trees for humans, such as nuts and semi wild plum, which will also be enjoyed by the wildlife.

There is a ditch as flood defence for the railway line at the bottom of the slope, home to many rabbits. It’s been advised not to plant here and leave an area of bramble because it has a flood defence ditch belonging to the railway. This all encourages the biodiversity together along with the wildflowers in the meadow.

The planting was designed to incorporate and not disturb the existing spread of wildflowers – such as snowdrops, native daffodils, crocus and bluebells – that carpet the ground alongside the gardens of Linden House in the spring.

iNaturalist Bioblitz (Coming soon)

2021

Acquired

13,590m²

Size

131

Plants Added

Plant Species

Existing Mature Trees

1x Wellingtonia
1x Lucombe Oak

Added Trees (Large)

Added Trees (Medium)

Planting Plan

Plans were drawn up by the Transition Town Wellington design team after spending 3 months surveying the field, and based on discussions with the nearby residents, Somerset Wildlife Trust and local expert Stephan Jennings.

We planted 131 trees in this field in February 2023, and a further 60 later in March to increase the size of the coppice after feedback from residents. The planting was in 4 areas:

A large area on the upper part of the field between the path and the boundary to the north west.
A thinner line of trees to the north planting 3 more linden trees to supplement those on the other side of the boundary, to emphasise the location.
A small plantation of smaller trees that prefer damp conditions in the north east corner.
A small plantation of smaller trees that prefer damp conditions to the south that will be coppiced in rotation to prevent too much shading of the meadow.

Large trees were planted at least 10m apart from each other to give them room when they are fully grown. Medium and small trees are planted between between the larger trees to provide variation in height, and eventually form an understory layer to the taller trees. These are 4m apart to allow children to play underneath the trees, with plans to add more small shrubs including currants inbetween and woodland bulbs such as bluebells, wild garlic, daffodils and snowdrops at a later stage on advice from the Wildlife Trust.