The Winding Hole Meadow

Documenting the making of a small wildflower meadow - managed for Nature and our Community

Over the last couple of years neighbours along the public footpath MCA20 (aka the ‘Muddy Path’), which runs from Westward Road to the dead-end of Frome Gardens, have cleared the edges, planted spring bulbs, put in hedging whips, and added bee hotels and nest boxes to enhance the biodiversity.

Looking South from the end of the ‘Muddy Path’ - November 2025

As of November 2025, we now have the go ahead from Stroud District Council to further transform the grassy area at the bottom by the Canal (up to the Oak tree) into a small wild flower meadow. The site matches that of an inlet of the Stroudwater which was most likely a turning place (winding hole) for trows after unloading at Ebley Wharf.

Overlays of Ordnance Survey maps 1844-88 [1] and 2023 [2]
original Ebley Court (pink), Winding Hole (gray), the ‘Muddy Path’ (green) 

Immediately, we will scarify and sow yellow rattle seed, to moderate grass growth, and also over the first year aim to plant a few dwarf crab apples (for spring and autumn splendour, besides food for insects and birds), purchase a bench or two, create a hibernaculum and carry out a single cut in late summer 2026.

Westward view - November 2025

Subsequently, we may add snakes-head fritillary and wild daffodil bulbs and sow a wild flower mix, though buttercups, clover, teasels, wild geranium, and yarrow are already emerging.

Southwest towards Selsley and Ebley Mill

There will be opportunities for families to sponsor a bench. Besides which, of course, there will be occasional days for our local Community to get together to create the meadow or survey the fauna and flora, or just enjoy it and celebrate the seasons. All being well, within three years the meadow should be flourishing.

Planting plan

All the trees have been adopted:

1 Aubrey and Maeve’s Crab apple - Malus Candymint (2.5x2.5m) 30/11/2025

2 Richard and Teena’s Japanese cherry - Prunus incisa Kojo-no-mai (2.5x2.5m)

3 Jenny and Alba-Luna’s Crab apple - Malus Indian Magic (4x3m)

4 Jesse and Solly’s Dessert apple - Lodgemore Nonpareil (M9 rootstock 2.5x2.5m)

5 Ben and Elly’s Medlar - Royal (3x3m) [available autumn 2026]

6 Lewis, Toby and Wendy’s Japanese apricot - Prunus mume Beni-Chidori (2x2m)

30 patches strimmed and scarified on November 19th,
ready for sowing yellow rattle seed

A brilliant afternoon sowing and stomping and toasting happy growing.

30th November 2025 - an auspiciously sunny day for planting our first tree, Aubrey and Maeve’s crab apple Malus Candymint.

Beginning to end -
Supervisor Mum sets Dad to manual labour
Maeve and Aubrey watering in

A family team effort

16th December 2025 - another two trees planted:

Lewis, Toby and Wendy’s Japanese apricot

treading in - banging in - watering in

with Beni-Chidori and Primrose

and Jenny and Alba-Luna’s Crab apple

Smiles all round for Malus Indian Magic

18th December - followed by Richard and Teena’s Japanese cherry

The proud adopters of Prunus incisa Kojo-no-mai

Winter Solstice, Sunday 21st December

Everyone is very welcome

We lit the Yule log at the point the sun stood still

recited the ancient incantation:

May the log burn

May the wheel turn

May evil spurn

May the Sun return 

danced around the Yule log to Jaiya’s ‘Yule has Come’, drank mulled apple juice and feasted on mince pies and a chocolate log, and sang Kim Baryluk’s ‘Solstice Carole’ in unison:

A fire is burning

The long night draws near

All who need shelter

Are Welcome right here

We’ll dance ‘neath the stars

And toast the past year

For the spirit of solstice

Is still living here …

          with thanks to Pearl of the Stroud ‘Harmony Tree’ Folk Choir

Another fantastic neighbourly knees-up.

9th February 2026

Beni-Chidori with the first blossom at the meadow

16th February 2026 - Jesse and Solly did a great job planting their one year old dessert apple tree, Lodgemore Nonpareil, with Lewis’ help. (A heritage apple first raised at Lodgemore by Mr Cook in 1808 and then propagated by the nurseryman Mr Clissold, who originally sold it as Clissold’s Seedling).

Thumbs up from Jesse and a smile from Solly for happy growing

2nd March 2026 - Richard and Teena’s Japanese cherry bush bursts into glorious blossom, competing with the cherry plum at the end of the back path.

Cherry plum tree (left) and Japanese cherry bush (right)

10th March 2026

          bugtastic work by Maeve and a Victory for Nature

Thursday 9th April

In the Pink - glorious blossom on our two crabapple trees

Late April 2026 and there are various wild flowers in bloom

Dove’s-foot cranesbill

Regular updates of progress will be posted here along with images of the developing meadow.

References

1 https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp

2 reproduced on the Stroud District Council planning portal

3 image from The American practice abridged, or The family physician: being the scientific system of medicine, 1846

We are really grateful for sponsorship from

Brimscombe

   for donation of a hedgehog house

for a 2025 Community Award

Thanks for advice and support to:

Lauren Holbrow (SDC Public Spaces Officer)

Rebecca Charley (SDC Strategic Lead for Nature Recovery and Biodiversity)

Dave Mathews (Stroud District Councillor, Cainscross)

Gavin Lindsay (Cainscross Town Councillor)

Tamsin Bent (Stroud Valleys Project)

 

The Winding Hole meadow emblem [3] is the dandelion (Taraxacum), like others in the daisy family it is heliotropic, the flower-heads turning to follow the sun during the day.