These oats are left from a harvest a couple of seasons ago, surviving two winters to mark a manhole cover over what I presume is the field drainage system. Alternatively the manhole could serve another drainage system. Uphill of this patch are the dozen or so houses on our Lane. Head downhill from the manhole cover and patch of oats, and then turn right for a bit, and you will find a small sewage treatment works. Maybe @shepherdmanswife ‘s cooking is indirectly feeding the oats, if you see what I mean….