Langar, Nottinghamshire
- Naturescape Wildflower Farm
w/e 13 June
2004
An online dictionary describes a "weed" as "a
plant considered undesirable, unattractive, or troublesome, especially
one growing where it is not wanted, as in a garden"
whilst a "wildflower" is "a flowering
plant that grows in a natural, uncultivated state".
At the village of Langar to the south east of Nottingham, the
Scarborough family are engaged in growing wildflowers commercially
in a venture known as Naturescape. This collage above shows a
number of images from the site including the information hut
that contains many photographs and posters about their work producing
wildflower seeds, plants, native trees and shrubs.
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The site covers forty acres and occupies a relatively flat area
of land adjacent to Langar Airfield. Parts of the farm are devoted
to different aspects and this particular corner adjacent to the
picnic area shows how wildflowers can be used to create an attractive
and unusual cottage garden.
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There is a science involved in wildflower cultivation and not
all is left to chance as these seedlings growing under glass,
or rather polythene, show.
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The fruits of the Scarborough family's labours are evident in
this natural looking meadow close to the visitor centre, where
a number of different varieties of plant can be picked out.
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Another part of the site is called the aptly called Dragonfly
Pond where different plants illustrate what an impact they can
have on the environment and habitat of an area. Strategically
placed benches enable visitors to sit and watch the insects hovering
above the water and with luck, settling on the plants.
Click here to open
a new window showing a bonus picture taken here with my new camera.
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But one of the main joys of a visit to the farm which offers
free admission, is to see the fields full of wildflowers where
rows of colour are just a pure delight. Whilst many of these
plants would not be welcome in town gardens like my own, where
they would probably be regarded as weeds rather than wildflowers,
I am more inclined towards Gerard Manley Hopkins' point of view
than William Cowper's "Pernicious weed! whose scent the
fair annoys".
"What would the world be, once bereft
Of wet and wildness? Let them be left,
O let them be left, wildness and wet;
Long live the weeds and the wildness yet."
Gerard Manley Hopkins 1844 - 1889
To learn more about Brian and Liz Scarborough's Naturescape,
click
here to visit their website.
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