Malster’s Little Field

Buying the field – The Pond – Wild-flower plots

Having successfully raised the funds to purchase Grove Piece (Blyth Woods first land acquisition) we looked covetously at the neighbouring field that could link up with the nearby public footpath. Malster’s Little Field was being farmed by Roger Desborough but was an awkward shape to farm using modern methods of machinery. So we approached Roger, after all nothing ventured, nothing gained. To our great delight he agreed to sell the 1.6 acre plot and it was not long before a deal was negotiated, subject to raising the necessary funds.

This time the Blyth Woods trustees decided to engage a professional fund raiser, namely, SJW Fundraising Consultants Ltd. They have a comprehensive database to identify donors mainly, in this case, trusts and foundations. And lo and behold donations came thick and fast from the following (in order of receipt):

JP Marland Charitable Trust

Fitzmaurice Trust

Lord Belstead Charitable Trust

Alfred Williams Charitable Trust

Fitton Trust

Martin Wills Wildlife Trust

The Swire Charitable Trust

Aquarius Charitable Trust

Banister Charitable Trust

Geoffrey Burton Trust

WF Southall Trust

Garfield Weston Trust

Frognal Trust

Prince of Wales Charitable Trust

Alongside the efforts of SJW, Blyth Woods itself raised funds, in particular with a vegetarian starters and puddings evening and an auction of promises. This event raised an amazing £2,500 plus and it is gratifying to have such a tangible sign of support from the local community. More details of this event and other fund raising can be found elsewhere on this website.

These combined efforts meant that sufficient funds were available in half the expected time to purchase the land and fund the immediate maintenance matters we had identified. And we haven’t allowed the grass to grow beneath our feet as can be witnessed on this website. Malster’s Little Field is already competing with Grove Piece for the number of saplings planted.

Do visit this newly acquired land to see how it is already developing thanks to so many generous donors and to the volunteers turning it into a community open space for all to enjoy.

Wild Flower plots

We are hoping to encourage a more diverse flora in Malsters’s Little Field. Alan Miller mowed four plots earlier in the year and since then they have been mown again. Each time the cut grass has been raked off. This helps to decrease the fertility of the soil which weakens the vigorous grasses and gives other plants a chance. Two of the plots will be left to regenerate naturally and the other two have been sown with wild flower seed obtained locally mostly from field edges and roadside verges close to the woods

Marie and Alan carried out a survey of the existing plants in the four plots so that we can see what changes take place.

Plot surveys

Plot 1 Control
Bristly oxtongue	Picris echlioides
Ragwort	Senicio jacobea
Spear thistle	Cirsium vulgare
Wild oat	Arena fatua
Tall fescue	Festuca arundinacea
Oak	Quercus robur
Creeping buttercup	Ranunculus repens
Rosebay willow herb	Chamaenerion angustifolium

Plot 2 Seeded with additions
Bristly oxtongue	Picris echlioides
Rosebay willow herb	Chamaenerion angustifolium
Spear thistle	Cirsium vulgare
Wild oat	Arena fatua
Dog Rose	Rosa canina
Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale
Field maple	Acer campestre
Hornbeam	Carpinus betulus
Cocksfoot	Dactylis glomerata
Perennial rye	Lolium perenne

Additions to Plot 2
Ox eye daisy	Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Yellow rattle	Rhinanthus minor
Common Mallow	Malva sylvetris
Red Clover	Trifolium pratense
Ribwort plantain	Plantago lanceolata
Knapweed	Centaurea major
White Campion	Silene alba
Cowslip	Primula Veris
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium

Plot 3 Control
Dandelion	Taraxacum officinale
Bristly oxtongue	Picris echlioides
Rosebay willow herb	Chamaenerion angustifolium
Wild oat	Arena fatua
Perennial rye	Lolium perenne
Annual meadow grass	Poa annua
Hogweed	Heraceum sphondylium


Plot 4 Seeded with additions
Wild oat	Arena fatua
Creeping thistle	Cirsium arvense
Bristly oxtongue	Picris echlioides
Creeping buttercup	Ranunculus repens
Curled Dock	Rumex crispus
Doves foot cranesbill	Geranium molle
Rosebay willow herb	Chamaenerion angustifolium
Hoary willowherb	Epilobium parviflorum
Cow parsley	Anthriscus sylvestris

Additions to Plot 4
Ox eye daisy	Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
Yellow rattle	Rhinanthus minor
Common Mallow	Malva sylvetris
Red Clover	Trifolium pratense
Ribwort plantain	Plantago lanceolata
Knapweed	Centaurea major
White Campion	Silene alba
Cowslip	Primula Veris
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium

Restoring the pond in Malster’s

Although there are 22,000 ponds in Suffolk, some 70% are neglected or overgrown and have limited wildlife value. However, restored, they can be of immense ecological value and become real jewels in the landscape. Later this autumn will see the restoration of the large pond in Little Malsters Field. Currently the pond is overshadowed with trees and is choked with reed mace and common reed and heavily silted as a result of years of accumulated leaf litter. Members of the group will clear the invading willow scrub and a contractor will desilt the pond using a large excavator then spread the spoil on the adjacent land. Initially the area will look like a scene of devastation with mud liberally spread but, come the spring, new life will emerge as dormant seeds grow and the area of open water will become a magnet for dragonflies and other aquatic life.