The turf has been scalped in several large patches in the grassy areas adjoining Windmill Hill in the centre of Hitchin. Too large for flower beds in the conventional sense but I surmised the council must be intending to create 'meadows' by seeding with wildflowers. That was confirmed a few days later when I spotted a poster about the scheme.

 Removing the existing grass is generally a prerequisite for trying to create a meadow as most wildflower species cannot compete with the rye grasses used for amenity areas and lawns. Meadow grasses have a symbiotic relationship with the wildflowers that grow among them. And wonderful names too- Sweet Vernal Grass, Crested Dogstail, Chewing's Fescue, Yorkshire Fog et al.

 It's probably impossible to recreate an ancient turf even by using comparable species, that's why it's so important to hang on to the ones that remain. Nonetheless these contemporary meadows are a welcome trend. Typically certain vigorous plants tend to dominate to eye catching effect e.g. Ox-eye Daisy and Knapweeds. Case in point the music school has an area sowed with a native meadow mix (above).