Using green hay is a great way of establishing a new wildflower meadow.
Green hay consists of wildflowers and grasses, usually taken from a grassland made up of a variety of species. Just as it is its shedding seed, green hay is harvested and within a few hours of being collected, spread over a pre-prepared recipient site before the seed has the chance to warm up and become infertile.
It is usually collected throughout the summer and autumn depending on the type of grassland, location and weather, as well as whether the hay contains early or later seeding species.
It is important that the doner site and recipient site share some relevant similarities, such as soil type, soil pH and how wet they are. Green hay should also have very few competitive species as to not impede wildflower growth.
Since the 1930s, we’ve lost 97% of wildflower meadows due to urban growth and intensive farming, leading to major habitat loss. Longmarsh meadow is a rare and vibrant habitat full of life. To restore similar areas nearby, seed-rich green hay is collected from Longmarsh and spread at areas at other sites, helping new meadows grow and wildlife return.
Longmarsh meadow consists of some very special species: meadowsweet with its creamy blooms, purple knapweed, and wild carrot are all favourites of bees and other pollinators. Spot grass species like crested dog’s-tail, sweet vernal grass, and creeping bent, alongside fescue grasses, give the meadow its rich texture.
This meadow supports a variety of insects, including bees and butterflies. You might see an orange tip butterfly near cuckooflowers, or the common blue, whose caterpillars feed on bird’s-foot trefoil.
ParkLife has been using green hay to grow meadows locally and bring new life to these spaces, specifically in the Avon Valley, Totnes Cemetery and other parts of Longmarsh. Volunteers help care for the meadow in a few different ways. At just the right time, when seedheads are ripe, volunteers cut and rake the meadow and collect seeds. The cut green hay is bagged and quickly taken to other sites the same day. Spreading this seed-rich hay allows for new wildflower meadows to be created, increasing the biodiversity in an area.
