More hay meadows restored in national park

Hay meadows were restored with propagated plants at Cartmel Fell

Hay meadows spanning the equivalent of 23 football pitches have been restored at a national park.

A project by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) and Cumbria Wildlife Trust this summer saw plants propagated and wildflowers planted on 40 acres (16 hectares) of farmland in Cartmel Fell and Newlands Valley.

LDNPA farming officer Claire Foster said: "In years to come these meadows will be more diverse environments supporting a variety of flora and fauna whilst playing an important role in livestock farming."

It was part of BMW UK's Recharge in Nature project which will see a total of £1m invested into nature and community projects across the country.

Once established, hay meadows help provide habitat for wildlife, including bees and butterflies.

Between June and September, 1,305 plug plants were planted across the two sites, from 17 different species.

About 21 native provenance wildflower species in the seed mixes were used, not including grass species, the LDNPA said.

The replanted farmland will eventually look like the hay meadows in Hartsop, Lake District

Sandi Friend-Thornton, who farms at Crosthwaite, had native wildflower seed sown across 3.2 acres (1.3 hectares) of land through the project.

She said: "We want to leave the soil in a healthier state.

"In a few years, if [the restoration is] successful, we could be a donor field and pass on the seed to another field."

The national project, which is entering its third year, was secured by National Parks Partnerships.