Carters Meadow – A beautiful community project
A fabulous wild-flower meadow on the edge of the village of Cotton in Suffolk.
Given to the village around the turn of the millennium, it was a four acre site that they have worked on as a community over the last dozen or so years and turned into a stunning beauty spot. They get together a working party each month to maintain pathways etc. in between large areas of a plethora of wild-flowers, many of which have been planted and nurtured.
They have some cracking little areas that have been really well thought out, providing areas of flora and fauna, as well as amazing spots for critters to inhabit the place in completely natural surroundings, particularly down by the little pond.
I was shown round by Andrew Stringer, village resident, local councillor and one of the working party. We found a number of newts, toads and frogs whilst peering under rocks and logs.
A great feature as you walk in is their ‘henge’ structure made from an old oak tree. It is literally a large section of an old oak that has been sliced into 8 segments and then set in concrete in a circle, effectively just opening out the segments, in order. It’s a fabulous sight and great to walk in and out of.
A Pyramidal Orchid
Keen to recycle, they removed the old village bus stop when it was being replaced and resurrected it in the meadow, using it as a shelter-cum-info point.
Not sure if they have a post code as it is a field but just head to Cotton, North of Stowmarket and look for Carters Meadow – it’s not hard to find and it is open for all to enjoy