Schoolchildren Learn about Life in the Ancient Haymeadows
Education through experience is the key to saving our haymeadows for future generations
230 first school children Tynedale are to discover for themselves next week the way hay meadows used to be when their grandparents were young – full of colour, beauty and hundreds of different species of wildflowers and wildlife.
The children, who are all having National Park talks at their schools in advance, will visit the ancient haymeadows around Greenhaugh to take part in a range of activities to teach them about the importance of biodiversity for farming and for life. Events on the day will include looking more closely at wildflowers, discovering the insects that depend upon them. Participating schools include Greenhaugh, Kielder, West Woodburn, Bellingham, Wark, Humshaugh, Newbrough and Otterburn.
Flower-rich hay meadows provide a blaze of colour in high summer and are a haven for wildlife with commonly over 30 plant species per square metre. Upland hay meadows are internationally rare and Northumberland National Park has some of the best in Europe. Our hay meadows contain species such as wood cranesbill and yellow rattle and are at their best in June and July.
Seeding Change Project officer, Shaun Hackett said: "Helping children to understand through experience about the teeming life in traditional haymeadows, and how the health of this habitat affects a whole range of creatures along the food chain and into our own food production, is the best way to protect them for future generations."
Members of the public can enjoy a country walk amongst the haymeadows too. June and July are the best times of year to look out for the flowers, but take care not to trample them as they are a crop for livestock. Some of the National Park's finest meadows can be seen from the gated road from Lanehead to Falstone, and Greenhaugh Meadow and Boughthill Mill meadow either side of the Tarset Burn can be seen from a footpath from Greenhaugh. Many of the verges in the North Tyne valley are still full of colour in August and September
