Meadow foxtail

Look out for meadow foxtail in flower. This early flowering grass has a tight cylindrical spike hosting many invertebrates, which in turn are prey for invertebrate eating birds.Meadow foxtail is found in old unimproved grasslands. Seed mixtures for improved grassland will not include it and such fields are grazed or cut before grasses head out or go to seed which is important for efficient food production. This shows the ecological benefit of retaining grass margins around improved grass fields.as well as leaving other grassy ‘waste’ areas left unsprayed in the countryside and delay cutting until autumn. Meadow foxtail nó fiteog léana is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Meadow foxtail growing in its habitat