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Countryman Diary - July 2010
Hay meadows
One of the joys of summer in the countryside is the sight of a vibrant hay meadow.
I can’t expect ordinary farmers to set aside thousands of acres of land for traditional hay meadows just because I like to see them. But I do believe that large, wealthy landowners could indulge us a little and that is why I was pleased to hear that the National Trust were promoting their own hay meadows.
Helen Buckingham, a conservation advisor with the trust, tells me:
“The revolution in grassland farming, with its cycles of ploughing and re-seeding and dramatic increase in the use of fertilisers and herbicides, has resulted in a dramatic loss of flower rich meadows. The last detailed study across England and Wales indicates that only three per cent of the enclosed unimproved grasslands of the 1930s survive.
“The best examples are a colourful refuge for the more uncommon plants such as greater butterfly orchid and wood bitter vetch. In contrast to the species-poor improved grasslands that dominate so much of the farmed landscape, hay meadows provide a rich nectar source in early summer and are often alive with butterflies, burnet moths and bees.
“Meadows are also an important habitat for birds providing both feed and nesting sites, particularly for species such as the skylark. Perhaps more than any other habitat their ever changing appearance and cycle of management are evocative of our changing seasons and the link between nature and farming.”
Some of the best hay meadows can be found on trust land and in many places it won’t cost you a penny to see them. Here are some to enjoy (visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more details):
Westhay Meadows, Golden Cap Estate, Dorset; Berthlwyd Farm Hay Meadows, Brecon Beacons; upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales National Park, north of Skipton; Runnymede, Berkshire; Hartland Moor and Middlebere, Dorset; Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens, Anglesey; Downhill Demesne, Co. Londonderry; Llanerchaeron Estate, near Aberaeron, Ceredigion; Longshaw, Derbyshire; Lyveden New Bield, Northamptonshire.
Westhay Meadows in Dorset is one of a number of National Trust sites taking part in its Hay-Meadow Fever scheme this summer. Photograph © National Trust.
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Wildlife in the Wirral
This month sees the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (16 July) at Gordale Garden Centre, Chester High Road, Burton, Wirral. As a non-profit-making organisation, NEWA invests most of its proceeds back into the following year’s exhibition and also donates to relevant charities. This year there will also be a Wildlife Awareness Day on 16 July. More details on www.newa-uk.com.
It's show time
Summer also heralds the start of the show season and although we haven’t room to mention them all here I’d like to draw your attention to two in particular.
With the demise of the Royal Show, the biggest crowd-puller in England will now probably be the Great Yorkshire which takes place in Harrogate (July 13-15) where Princess Anne will be in attendance.
The New Forest & Hampshire County Show (July 27-29) at New Park, Brockenhurst, will also be a special affair as it celebrates its ninetieth anniversary. To mark the occasion ninety trees will be planted in New Park, along with ninety metres of hedgerows. Ninety free tickets will be donated to local charities.
Those with internet access should visit www.asao.co.uk/events_calendar for a full list of shows around the country.
Ride and stride
I’d also like to draw your attention to the Ride & Stride event which has been organised to raise money to save our historic churches. Although the actual event is not until September 11, it is important for participants to register as soon as possible.
Around 13,000 people took part last year, walking or cycling between 10,000 churches all around the country. Last year more than £1.5 million was raised. If you would like to take part, contact your local church or visit www.rideandstrideuk.org.
Who is counting
There are a number of Countryman readers who write in to tell me about their annoyance at the way we add metric to any imperial measurements. Their reasons vary, from a stubbornness to accept the metric system to the fact its inclusion unnecessarily halts the flow of reading.
We do it because a new generation of readers don’t use imperial and we want them to feel part of The Countryman community. It’s something I’ll continue to monitor as I don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of the magazine.
Of course The Countryman has to move with the times or else we’d still be giving information in groats, farthings, rods, perches and furlongs.
Perhaps we should adapt the rural method of measurement which Richard Parsons of Combe Martin, Devon, reminded me of with this story:
“Back in the 1960s I worked for a year on a local Dorset farm and one day I was helping Tom, an elderly farmhand, to manually load mangolds from a clamp in the farmyard for shredding before feeding to the cattle.
“The clamp seemed enormous and, in passing the time, I said to Tom: ‘How many mangolds do you think there are in this clamp?’
“Old Tom stopped work, put his hand under his chin and gazed at the clamp for quite some while, as though mentally making a rough count, before eventually replying:
“‘Oi reckon there be the best part of a tidy few’.”
Competition Winners
Winners of the May crossword are Muriel Doxsey, Southamptonl - Abina Moynihan, London NW3 and Brenda Watkins, Wern-y-Cwrt, Raglan.
Thank you to all those who entered.
Paul Jackson
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