If you go down to the meadow today...

You're in for a nice surprise. It's looking incredible!

The thick grass is a haven for butterflies, birds and insects - and perfect for a picnic.

Look closely and you'll see native bluebells all over the meadow - so all our had work planting bulbs is paying off!

The wild herbs planted by the gardening club last summer are thriving - and the fruit trees love their new home.

Look closely, and you'll find wild garlic growing in the long grass.

Currants! These will be delicious in a couple of months.

Unlike lawns, in a meadow, the more dandelions the better - bees love them, and they look amazing en masse.

Come take a stroll down our flower-lined paths, then take a seat on our hand-carved bench and enjoy a bit of wild London!

Homes for our feathered friends

Hot off the heels of the ants post comes more good news for Mabley Green's birds. Thanks to the RSPB, muf and the amazing woodworking skills of the kids at Gainsborough Primary School, we now have a set of locally made bird boxes, built especially for the birds in our area. There are three boxes now gracing the trees of Mabley Meadow - one at the front by the road, and more two further back. The boxes are a fantastic addition to the meadow so let's hope the birds agree.

All three boxes were hung with tender loving care, and probably in the most ridiculous, foolhardy way possible. So while the pictures below are kind of entertaining, it's probably best not to use them as a guide if you're going to do this yourself.

Getting antsy

To the untrained eye, this may look like a mound to dirt in some grass. But it's actually something pretty amazing - a thriving ant hill in the meadow (but on the far, far side away from the houses, so Eastway residents, you have nothing to fear).

When the grass was being regularly mown, this healthy colony wouldn't have stood a chance. But thanks to the meadow, insects are starting to thrive in the area. Although ants aren't everyone's cup of tea, they're a tasty treat for birds. So having more of them around means it won't be long before our feathered friends start setting up homes in the area. So that's great news - even for those of us firmly in the anti-ant camp. Stay tuned for bird song in 2012...