.

Wildlife needs meadows and verges

The fells and dales have a multitude of different grassland habitats and the hay meadows and road verges are crucially important for a wide variety of wild plants and animals.

In 2011 Cumbria Wildlife Trust worked with farmers in the The Westmorland Fells and Lake Distict National Park project area to conserve and restore traditional hay meadows. The HayDay project was established to identify where these flower rich meadows are in the county, and then to work with farmers, smallholders and community groups to enhance, restore and manage these meadows using traditional practices to increase plant diversity.

Restoration and conservation of hay meadows provides vital habitat for native wildlife. Traditional upland hay meadows are important for wildlife diversity being home to a profusion of wildflowers and co-dependent pollinating insects. The Above images are prize winning entries from Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s 2009 Hay meadow photographic competition.

Westmorland Fells’ Hay Meadows

Why not share your observations on iNaturalist?

Hay Meadows

Westmorland Fells and The Hay-Day Project

Cumbria Wildlife Trust Hayday Project

Header image Rob Grange Photography

In Westmorland Cumbria Wildlife Trust has surveyed meadows, restored many by adding wildflower seed, provided input into Farm Environment Plans/HLS agreements, helped meadows get designated as new County Wildlife Sites, established seed donor sources and provided management guidance. View their page on Meadow Life. View Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership campaign to increase species rich grassland.

Click here to view Judith’s Insects gallery