How to manage a wildflower meadow

Grasslands mown in most years are termed ‘meadows’. Meadows have existed since the Iron Age, producing hay to feed livestock in the winter. Meadows should normally be cut in mid to late summer, the cuttings allowed to dry in the field and then removed. Traditionally meadows would be grazed after the hay has been cut, to remove the ‘aftermath’. During the 20th century, farmers largely converted from producing hay to producing silage. Silage is cut more often than hay, and the use of artificial fertiliser to replenish soil fertility means silage fields generally have little value for nature. It is possible to produce haylage on grasslands rich in nature; as long as the haylage is cut at the right time. (Haylage is a middle ground between silage and hay where the cut grass is half dried and then wrapped.)

A hay regime is valuable for nature because it: allows flowering plants chance to bloom and set seed, creating an attractive landscape full of nectar sources for pollinating insects such as butterflies and bees and cover for nesting birds, such as lapwing and curlew,; The removal of the cut grass gradually reduces the nutrient levels in the soil favouring the finer flowing species over more vigorous grasses giving a greater diversity. Leaving uncut areas around the edges provides shelter for nesting birds and nectar for invertebrates. Ancient grasslands, such as those rich in ant hills or archaeology, should not be mown, but sympathetically grazed by livestock.

Wildflower meadows have not only been a vital part of food production for centuries, they also provide a really important role for nature and the environment. The diverse mixture of grasses and wildflowers which occur in hay meadows offers a valuable nectar source for a whole host of pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies as well as beetles, moths and hoverflies. These in turn provide a food source for other animals such including bats, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and birds. 

The plants found in meadows are able to capture carbon in the soil, help with nutrient cycling, to improve the health of the soil and soil microbiome, help retain water in periods of heavy rainfall and help prevent soil erosion

Sadly, species rich wildflower meadows are now exceptionally rare in the UK. Nationally 97% of hay meadows have been lost since the 1940’s. In Cheshire the problem is even more severe with only 1% of meadows remaining. This loss can be mainly attributed to the transition of farming practices from hay production to silage as well as the development of housing and infrastructure. This loss of meadows has been attributed to one of the causes of insect decline

This means that every meadow is so important to our native wildlife and even by introducing a couple of additional species into your grassland and taking a later cut you can make a big difference.

If you would like to create a new wildflower meadow there are a couple of things to consider before you begin.

Firstly, it is really helpful to have an understanding of your land and what species you already have as this will help you decide what is the best way to restore your meadow. The best time to do a survey is in June when flowers are in bloom. Even if you can’t name each species, it is helpful to have an idea of the number of species you have growing. It might be that you already have quite a good diversity. Also keep an eye out for undesirable species, dock, ragwort, thistle for example. You will want to remove these before beginning any restoration.

Depending on the size of land you are restoring, a soil test looking at pH and nutrient level is strongly recommended. This can be done by buying a kit or sending soil off for analysis. The pH of the soil will aid you when selecting the best seed and the nutrient level in the soil will inform you of the land’s suitability. Wildflowers need a low nutrient level otherwise they are out competed by more vigorous grasses. If you have a high nutrient level you may want to consider steps to reduce this before beginning.

Lastly, it is worth considering how you are going to manage your meadow in the future. For a meadow to flourish it requires a late summer hay cut and the cuttings need to be removed. Depending on the size of your ground you may be able to do this manually but for larger areas you may need mechanical help. If this is the case you’ll need to consider how you are going to do this, if there is suitable access for machinery onto the land and who is going to cut it.

Once you have established your land is suitable for a meadow, you can decide the best way to restore it.

There are 3 main options:

• Green hay – This requires finding a local donor site (within 30 minutes of your restoration site) and cutting the grass when the seeds are ripe, removing the grass and spreading it on the prepared restoration site.
• Seed – Seed can be harvested from local sites using a brush harvester, or can be bought from a reputable supplier. Seed is then broadcast on the prepared ground.
• Plug plants – When there is a moderate diversity of species already present in the sward it is possible to add additional diversity by supplementing with native plug plants.

Both green hay and seed require carrying out some ground preparation before you begin. This requires scarifying the ground to create some bare soil. This can be done manually, with a rotavator, or on a larger scale using a tractor mounted power harrow.

Wherever possible we recommend using seed which is as local as you can get to your restoration meadow. Local seed is better adapted to the regional climate and is in tune with the local fauna with regards to emersion times of insects, it also helps protect the local genetic pool.

To maximise the benefit of your new meadow and to ensure its longevity, it is advantageous when buying seed consider the soil type and pH to ensure that the species in the mix are best suited for your ground. A grass and wildflower mix with predominantly perennial flowers is advantageous because, if managed correctly, your meadow will return and improve year on year. Annual mixes will require annual resowing, disturbing the ground repeatedly and releasing carbon. The seed supplier will be able to help you with this.

The optimal way to manage your new wildflower meadow is to follow the practice used in hay making. This involves closing your meadow up to livestock in early April. This gives your wildflowers chance to grow without being nibbled off.

Allow your meadow to bloom and the wildflowers and grasses go to seed before taking a cut. We recommend taking a late summer hay cut around August. When a hay cut is taken, it is left to dry out, being turned a couple of times. This process, called tedding, helps release more seed, improving your meadow year on year.

Once the hay is dry it should be collected and removed off site. This ensures the nutrient levels are kept low to keep benefitting the wildflowers.

If possible, a hay meadow really benefits from being grazed by livestock after cutting. This keeps the new grass growth down and also helps press the seed into the ground. Livestock should be taken off if the field begins to get poached up.