Weald Meadows Initiative

The HWLT trustees are delighted to be able to fund the continuation of this ground breaking project. As well as providing funding the trust is now taking an active management role, working with new and existing partners to deliver Phase V of the project.

The project’s purpose is to ensure the long term survival of the irreplaceable species rich grassland of the Weald. This is done through providing practical support to landowners to help secure their management and productive and economic use. Previous phases of the project focused on:-

  • Recording surviving traditional meadows
  • Establishing new and innovative seed harvesting operations
  • Educating and enthusing land owners and contractors to implement these findings.

As a direct result of WMI many meadows have been recognised, protected, enhanced or created within the High Weald utilising native seed of a good local provenance. Only around four percent of our native lowland meadows survive in this country and in the Weald we are little better off with approximately five percent. Thanks to this project the diminishing trend has now been reversed.

HWLT was fortunate to secure funding from the Nineveh Charitable Trust and other generous private donors for Phase V of the Weald Meadows Initiative. The HWLT would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of the Tubney Charitable Trust.

Phase V of the project will run from November 2009 - October 2011. Advice and support will be given throughout the Weald with a strong focus on providing proactive advice to grassland owners on the Heathfield to Battle Ridge - a stronghold for species rich grasslands.

Contact:

The Weald Meadows Initiative is now based at The Ox Lodge Beech Farm, Netherfield Hill, Battle East Sussex TN33 0LL

Email: meadows@highwealdlandscapetrust.org Tel: 01424 774668 Mobile: 07863 081281

The Weald Native Origin Seed (WNOS) harvesting process in the meadows

There is choice of two machines available to use or the option of hand collecting seed.

The brush harvester allows a crop of hay to be taken after the ripe seeds have been brushed from the heads following seed harvesting, as it leaves a standing crop. This machine is more suitable for sites where there is a variety in sward height and not such even ground and is useful where invertebrates are an important feature as the majority of these beasties pass through the machine unscathed.
The combine collects more grass and wildflower seed but crucially does not distinguish between ripe and unripe species. It requires even ground and can cope with fairly small plants - so is suitable for low growing species. Because of the combines internal threshing action podded or well seated seeds are extracted more effectively but the site can rarely be taken for hay following harvesting, so is usually grazed.
The co-ordinator takes into account the site conditions and the needs of the meadow and landowner requirements when considering the choice of machine. The primary aim of the WMI is to conserve and enhance the value of wildflower grasslands so a key concern is that the seed harvesting process (and resulting income) does not overshadow the meadow management.

The next photos show the processes following seed harvesting with the brush harvester.

Seeds and chaff are deposited from the brush harvester on to a large tarpaulin in the meadow.

The stalks are then separated from the wild flower and grass seed.

The seed is left to dry in the sun and checked over carefully by hand.
Seed is bagged or wrapped at the end of the harvested and transported back to Agrifactors for drying on racks, seed cleaning, storage, and finally blending (in the autumn) for suitable receptor sites in the High Weald AONB.

Click on any picture to see an enlarged version.

More information on the Weald Meadows Initiative and wildflower grasslands can be found on the High Weald AONB website.

The Weald Meadows Initiative is funded with support from the Nineveh Charitable Trust, private donors, the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee, the Tubney Charitable Trust and Natural England.