Diversity

Visiting a traditional hay meadow full of wildflowers seemed like a good way to end my June challenge. Gordon was in need of a break from marking and the sun came out, so that was enough to send us on our way to Piper Hole Farm, Ravenstonedale, where I had discovered they were holding an Open Day.
 
One of the original Coronation Meadows, Piper Hole is one of the very few farms in the country where meadows have been left undamaged by agricultural intensification. Fields have been managed traditionally, over generations and are now flower-rich grasslands, providing a chance for many species of flower and grass to grow and seed.
 
We were led by the farmer on a walk through several fields and he talked and explained as we went. He pointed out many flowers and told us how everything was managed. There is one cut a year, timed so as to allow flowers and grasses to seed and the seeds to return to the ground. This farm is a donor farm in that they provide seeds for places such as Orton and Eycott Hill, which are developing their own meadows, on a smaller scale.
 

He also talked about farm diversification, for example how they have built up a stock of 200 goats (see extra). And there was tea and cake available at the end. A super couple of hours.