Nature - making green hay with Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Making ‘green hay’ Making ‘green hay’ for wildlife diversityfor wildlife diversity

By Sue Grime, NWT Claylands Community Engagement OfficerBy Sue Grime, NWT Claylands Community Engagement Officer

Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Connections project has been busy this Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Connections year helping communities to project has been busy this support wildlife across the South year helping communities to Norfolk Claylands. At Burston support wildlife across the South and Shimpling we have been Norfolk Claylands. At Burston undertaking simple botanical and Shimpling we have been surveys of playing fields, which undertaking simple botanical had been left for No Mow May. surveys of playing fields, which We have found a surprising had been left for No Mow May. diversity of plant species We have found a surprising and these will be monitored diversity of plant species over time while the meadow and these will be monitored establishes. The hay has been over time while the meadow recently cut by volunteers using establishes. The hay has been scythes following training on recently cut by volunteers using our ‘Introduction to scything scythes following training on our ‘Introduction to scything workshop.’ The parish has also planted a woodland and created a workshop.’ The parish has also raised bank that has been seeded planted a woodland and created a using wildflower seeds, and it will raised bank that has been seeded receive some ‘green hay’ as well. using wildflower seeds, and it will Green hay refers to the process receive some ‘green hay’ as well. of cutting hay from a local Green hay refers to the process wildlife-rich site and taking the of cutting hay from a local cut hay to a new site to help wildlife-rich site and taking the create new wildlife-friendly areas. cut hay to a new site to help A local site is best, as it preserves create new wildlife-friendly areas. the local genes and the habitat A local site is best, as it preserves requirements of the wildflowers the local genes and the habitat are likely to be met if they are requirements of the wildflowers sourced nearby. are likely to be met if they are The receiving site is prepared sourced nearby. in advance by cutting the grass The receiving site is prepared and then disturbing the ground in advance by cutting the grass and then disturbing the ground

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so that bare earth is exposed. The green hay is spread out thinly all over the meadow to allow the wildflower seeds to drop out and establish at their new site.

We are also adding green hay to establish a meadow in Stoke Holy Cross, officially known as Jubilee Meadows, and will be working with the parish council and local community to enhance the meadow for wildlife. They are also planting some trees, a new hedgerow and a community orchard in the green space. As well as being great for wildlife, this area will provide local residents with a beautiful area to walk and picnic and the opportunity to harvest fruit from the orchard.

Volunteers

Following on from our successful volunteer-led tree planting last winter, which saw us plant over 8,000 saplings, we have a new series of tree planting days lined up from November to February. If you’d like to volunteer to plant hedgerow or woodland trees in the South Norfolk area contact: sueg@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Free trees

NWT has partnered with the Woodland Trust’s Easter Claylands Treescape project to deliver the Tree Pack Giveaway this December. Landowners or community groups can register to collect packs of free trees including oak, hornbeam, hazel, field maple, wild cherry, and crabapple. www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/ freetrees

For more on Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Wilder Connections project:

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/ wilderconnections