Of late, there has been discussion amongst members of the Cherishing Sidmouth’s Cemeteries working party about carrying out a controlled trial of yellow rattle. This is often used to suppress the growth of grass – which it can do effectively, but it has to be done in a controlled way, otherwise it can itself become an invasive!
It’s clear, however, that something needs to be done about the currently very invasive grass – as the Management Plan for Sidmouth Cemetery still isn’t working. Perhaps, then, a trial on this large site might show what could be done longer-term.
It just so happens that the Caring for God’s Acre project has put together a blog piece on encouraging wildflowers as opposed to grass in cemeteries and graveyards. Here’s the opening paragraph:
Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) is a true hero in the quest to restore and create wildflower meadows. This semi-parasitic annual attaches itself to neighbouring grasses through its root system, reducing the vigour of the grass. Where Yellow Rattle is present, you will notice that the grass is shorter and less dense. (It can reduce hay yields by up to 50 percent which is why farmers did not like it!) This reduction in grass density allows more sunlight to reach the ground and reduces competition for wildflowers.
Again: all of this would need careful management!
Further reports forthcoming if and when…
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