Teesdale farmers unite with DEFRA to preserve rare hay meadows

Farmers across Teesdale have joined forces to help preserve the region's flower-rich hay meadows, with the help of Defra's Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme.

The upland hay meadows are a national rarity, their numbers having become much reduced in the 20th century as a result of agricultural intensification. Recent estimates indicate there are less than 1,000 hectares in northern England.

However in Teesdale, many farmers and landowners have signed up to Defra's ESA scheme, which offers incentives to encourage them to adopt agricultural practices to safeguard and enhance parts of the country of particularly high landscape, wildlife or historic value.

Teesdale forms part of the Pennine Dales, one of 22 ESAs in England, and more than 1,000 farmers and landowners have signed up to this ESA since its launch in 1987.

Last summer staff from Defra's Rural Development Service in the North East surveyed 60 hay meadows in Teesdale, recording plant species in the fields, taking details of the management in use and taking soil samples to analyse the pH (acidity and alkalinity) and nutrient status. This enabled the identification of potential sites for upgrades and enhancements.

Richard MacDonald, project officer for the Dale at Defra's Rural Development Service in the North East, explained:

"In recent years many farms have stopped applying lime to their hay meadows. In some circumstances the application of lime may not be desirable from a conservation point of view as it encourages the more productive grasses to grow and out compete some of the desirable plant species we're trying to preserve.

"However, if meadows become too acidic this can eventually result in a loss of plant species diversity. Our results showed the pH levels of some fields were down to pH 5.5, which is quite low, and in these cases we've advised the application of lime outside the bird-breeding season.

"We also identified several fields suitable for upgrades or enhancement work and by working closely with the farmers we've been able to ensure the right action and land management - such as light spring grazing with a late hay cut and aftermath grazing - to preserve this wonderful feature of our landscape."

Among the farmers involved in the scheme are Reuben Atkinson of Rose Tree Farm, Forest in Teesdale and Elaine Nixon and Chris Dent of Peghorn Lodge, Harwood.

Mr Atkinson, who runs the 140-acres cattle and sheep farm with his wife Hilary and their two children, said:

"The farm was already in ESA when we took over three years ago. We renewed the agreement for another ten years, as we believe it's important to preserve features such as the hay meadows. They're really quite unique.

"They would not survive under more intensive methods of farming as the flowers and other plant species cannot compete with the more rampant grasses, but with Defra's support we can afford to adapt our farming methods to ensure their survival."

Miss Nixon and Mr Dent, who have a young daughter, farm around 1,500 acres with suckler cows, Swaledale sheep and pure-bred Galloway cattle.

Miss Nixon explained:

"We renewed the existing ESA agreement when we took over the farm two years ago.

"The hay meadows are an important feature of the landscape and by preserving them we also help the local wildlife, while the financial incentives offered by the scheme make it worthwhile."

Since 1996 Defra has supported research from the University of Newcastle on the optimum management for upland hay meadows and ways of reinstating the habitat on meadows that have become species-poor through the use of mineral fertiliser. The 14-year-old continuing meadow experiment on English Nature's Ingleborough National Nature Research has provided key insights for conservation management.

Dr Roger Smith, from the School of Biology at Newcastle University,

said:

"Suitable management of species rich meadows is essential for their conservation. It takes a very long time to reinstate plant diversity once species are lost through intensive agricultural management. Current research with the Universities of Lancaster, Reading and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research is investigating the role of key species such as red clover and hay rattle on soil microbes. Future successful conservation management will need to take a long-term view and probably involve the sowing of key species to facilitate grassland diversification."