Lady’s bedstraw
produces tiny, star-
shaped flowers.
Field scabious
can
produce some 2,000 seeds
per plant.
Clover
is useful to farmers
as it helps fertilize the soil.
It is part of the pea family.
Dandelion
heads are full
of tiny petals, each of
which turns into a seed.
Wood cranesbill
is a
woodland flower, but
grows in hay meadows.
Buttercup
flowers produce
30 seeds, so a large plant
may have 22,000 seeds.
Ragwort
is immensely
poisonous to horses, ponies,
donkeys, and cattle.
Thistle
fruits have
parachutes. The seeds may
be carried far and wide.
Daisies
hug the ground
and do well in short grass.
– such as on a lawn.
Cowslip
is found in clearings
and at the edge of woodland
as well as in meadows.
Musk mallow
produces
pretty flowers from June
to September.
In summer, a healthy grass meadow is
like a jungle in miniature. It is packed
with different plants and animals.
Life in a meadow
Weeds and
wildflowers
Wildflowers are pretty,
but some spread so
rapidly they can be
troublesome to farmers.
How long can a slow worm live: one, five, or 50 years?
Make yourself
a miniature meadow
inside a jar. Sprinkle a few
seeds onto damp soil. Put the jar
on a windowsill, keep it
watered, and watch as
the seeds grow.
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Ecosystems and habitats
Under the surface
Moles are capable miners, tunnelling
long passages through the soil and
producing tell-tale mounds of earth.
Hidden away
A meadow may be
inhabited by moles –
almost blind
creatures that
remain below
the ground.
Watch out!
Crab spiders are
powerful enough
to catch bees and
butterflies. They hide
among the flowers,
pouncing when prey comes close.
European
mole
Crab
spider
H
a
n
d
s
o
n
Campion
flower
