There have been many questions about what is happening to First Court Lawn as we have watched the gardeners stalwartly stripping the turf like de-icing a cake.  Dr Ingham, Honorary Garden Steward, has kindly sent the following:

“It would appear that First Court lawn has been slowly eaten over the past three or four years by a growing population of cockchafers (Melolontha melolontha, commonly known in the past in East Anglia as the 'May' or 'spang beetle'). Adult beetles lay eggs in grassland which develop as grubs for up to four years, feeding on the roots. Beetles emerge in late spring, feed on leaves, and repeat the cycle. After centuries as a serious pest on pasture and cereal crops, they were almost eradicated by pesticides in mid-twentieth century. However, increasingly strict regulation of chemical controls has allowed their re-emergence.

The removal of the now almost rootless turf has exposed the grubs and we are confident that this will lead to their elimination by birds, frost, and permitted pesticides. There are medieval recipes for cockchafer soup; but although I will pass one on to Kevin, I am hoping that the College will not be required to help in this way.

The area will then be re-seeded in the spring and we expect to have a reasonable coverage by early summer.”

Clare Kitcat