Gardeners chart biodiversity at Trinity

Trinity’s gardeners will document the biodiversity of the College’s 36-acre garden using iRecord to chart the variety and prevalence of species.

The iRecord app, managed by the UK’s Biological Records Centre, enables the gardeners to log sightings of wildlife and wild plants across the College gardens, which are verified by experts.

Trinity Head Gardener Karen Wells announced the Gardens’ Team use of iRecord at the scything of the Meadow Circle on the eve of the autumn equinox. She said.

We know that Trinity’s gardens – which include wildflower and flood meadows, wooded areas with mature trees, and our herbaceous borders – are a haven for all sorts of wildlife and wild plants.

The gardeners regularly see common garden birds and occasional visitors such as sparrowhawk, firecrest and kingfisher. The birds are attracted by the many food sources in the garden including insects, which are attracted in turn by the nectar and pollen from flowers, both ornamental and wild. The varied plant life – including fungi, lichen, grasses and flowers – provide shelter for insects, while the shrubs and wooded areas offer habitat for foxes and the occasional deer.

Ms Wells said:

From now on, when a gardener spots a bug, butterfly, bird or something bigger, they can log it on iRecord. We want to learn and by documenting what we see, where and in what concentrations, we can understand and encourage biodiversity at Trinity to thrive.

In 2019 the gardeners planted 14 types of wildflowers in the plain turf around the huge pink chestnut tree in New Court. ‘I can’t tell you how many different plants grow here now, but soon will be able to, with iRecord,’ said Ms Wells.

In a revival of tradition, the Meadow Circle was scythed by Trinity gardeners Joharna Richards and Jo Miles, Trinity Fellow Professor Marian Holness, and Head Gardener at Clare College Kate Hargreaves, all trained scythers. Read more about Four women went mow ...