From Hay Time to Nectarworks: novel approaches to landscape-scale upland hay meadow restoration in the North Pennines

摘要

Traditionally managed, mesotrophic species-rich upland hay meadows are one of the rarest grassland types in the UK. with 870 ha remaining in Northern England. Between 2006 and 2016. the North Pennines AONB Partnership coordinated and monitored the reintroduction of seeds from flower-rich sites to upland hay meadows across the North Pennines. using various methods of green hay addition and plug planting. In total, seed was added to 146 meadows, equalling 393 ha. Analysis of 46 meadows (130 ha) found that green hay addition was successful in 40 (87%). where the commoner wildflower species such as Rhinanthus minor, Euphrasia arctica. Trifolium pratense and Trifolium duhium established well. However, characteristic MG3 species such as Geranium sylvaticum, Sanguisorha officinalis and Trollius europaeus were slow to establish. Evidence suggests that hand collecting seed and planting plugs into edges of meadows is a good way of establishing typical MG3 species.