See stunning High Borrowdale hay meadow display
In its seventh year Friends of the Lake District's recreated upland hay meadow at High Borrowdale has produced another stunning display of flowers – but you'll need to hurry to see it at its best before it is cut from 20th July onwards.
The land, at High Borrowdale, north east of Kendal, south of Shap, has a 4 ha site full of traditional upland hay meadow flowers – including ox eye daisy, red clover, geranium, yellow rattle, hawkbit, ragged robin, and meadowsweet and new flowers are appearing all the time.
The landscape conservation charity bought High Borrowdale in 2002, to enhance the landscape, show good practice in managing the land for conservation, protect it from future inappropriate development, and allow free access to the public. It is in the proposed new extended area of the Lake District National Park.
Upland hay meadows are a declining habitat and a priority habitat in the Cumbria Biodiversity Action Plan. When Friends of the Lake District first bought the land few people had trialled establishing upland hay meadows, so we were among the first to recreate a new one, and have been used as a model of good practice since by many organizations and partners.
The meadow was first seeded in 2005, with seed from a donor site at nearby Borrowbeck Meadows. The site has special management involving grazing stock until 1 April each year, and will be cut after 20 July, after which cows are allowed to graze to eat the remaining vegetation, which allows the hay meadow to regenerate next year.
Friends of the Lake District Policy Officer Jan Darrall said: “Despite the weather, our meadow is beautiful once again. You are very welcome to go and enjoy our fantastic meadow. Please walk around the edges rather than over the meadow to avoid trampling, it, and don't pick the flowers as the farmer will be making hay from this shortly.”
Farmers and land managers interested in learning more about hay meadows can also join one of four events being organised in July by our Work the View project. For more information contact Carol Douglas on 01539 720788, carol-d@fld.org.uk
