Hay meadow at Ravenstonedale

We were very pleased to have a tour round Kilnmire Farm at Ravenstonedale yesterday to see their amazing hay meadows, farmed traditionally at low intensity for decades, never reseeded. Lots of species with some variation at fields edges, drier patches, wet flushes and cold spots. The meadows are kept free of stock from May 15th and usually cut on July 15th. They aim to let ground nesting birds such as lapwings breed before cutting though the number of curlews has gone done a lot, as indeed had other birds.

The wildlife trust say "Current estimates suggest that only 1,000 hectares of traditional upland hay meadow remain in England"
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitats/upland-hay-meadows