Even the dreaded bindweed has its uses

FOR many gardeners bindweed is a nightmare of a weed. Wandering around the garden at South Bosent I saw a notice informing visitors that some has been left in the borders because a most interesting species of moth has been spotted there and the plant is what its caterpillars feed on. The white plume moth has wings deeply divided into several finely feathered plumes.

I was visiting this astonishing garden in the making near Liskeard when it was open recently for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Like an increasing number of people, the owners are enthusiastically trying to combine growing plants they enjoy and providing a haven for wildlife.

Bob Prosser and Adrienne Lloyd bought the property in 2011. It had been empty for eighteen months and for the first few years they concentrated on the house and taming the vegetation around it. In 2017 they were joined by Trish and Richard Wilson, Adrienne’s sister and brother-in-law.

Only during the last few years have they really concentrated on the land, a spectacular 9.5 acres of fields and woodland. Much was done last year, battling the cold spring and summer drought. The progress has been breathtaking.

One of their earlier actions was to create a large pond as providing water is one of the best ways to attract more wildlife. There are now five ponds of various sizes with plans to create more. These have attracted good populations of frogs, toads, newts and dragonflies.

A large wildflower meadow is being created. Some people will strip off the top soil to do this, as in rich conditions grasses out-compete the flowers. At South Bosent yellow rattle seed is sown, a parasitic plant that weakens grass by feeding on the roots.

At the bottom of the food chain are the insects and as the habitat improves their numbers have increased. Moth traps set up one night last year yielded 38 species. This in turn brings in more bats.

With seeds, insects and a healthy population of voles, shrews and field mice to feed them the range of bird species is increasing. The exoticlooking hoopoe has even put in an appearance, a bird that has always eluded me.

There are orchards, a vegetable garden and poly tunnels; the work done is incredible. They planted a long border they call the Forth border because once they have finished weeding it is time to start again, but undeterred now have another even longer one. Watch out for the open days next year and arrive in good time. You will need all the afternoon to explore everything and finish with a delicious tea.