Traditionally the rich pasture of the Lake District valleys, hay meadows provided feed for sheep and cows during the winter months as well as a haven for wildlife. But due to changes in farming practices, hay meadows have been lost or degraded by approximately 97% since the 1930s.
The War effort
The increase in food demand during World War II led to many traditional hay meadows being replanted with fast-growing grass species or ploughed up for other crops. This has had a huge impact on the biodiversity of these habitats but fortunately hay meadows rich in wildflowers are now being restored across the Lakes and the UK, to reverse the decline.
Traditional farming practices
Working with our farm tenant, Gary Dixon, here at Hill Top, we manage the land in a certain way; avoiding using artificial fertilisers and cutting the grass later in the summer for hay, which allows the plants to flower and set seed.
This is a traditional practice that goes back hundreds of years, which fosters a rich and varied habitat for hundreds of species.
