Green hay spread for wildflower meadow at Hinton Ampner

The hay, gathered from a species-rich meadow managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT), has been spread across a former arable field at the National Trust’s Hinton Ampner estate to support the restoration of one of the UK’s most threatened habitats.

It will help create a new wildflower meadow at Hinton Ampner. (Image: Chris Fairhead)

Andy Reeves, reserves officer at HIWWT, said: "It was fantastic to see staff and volunteers from different organisations working side by side to make this happen.

"There was a real sense of teamwork as people cut, raked and loaded the hay together, knowing that every trailer load will help create new habitat for wildlife."

Green hay was harvested from a botanically rich meadow at the foot of St Catherine's Hill Nature Reserve near Winchester, through a partnership involving HIWWT, the National Trust, South Downs National Park Authority and CPRE Hampshire.

Cut by hand using traditional scythes and brushcutters, the hay was raked, loaded onto trailers and transported to Hinton Ampner while still fresh to ensure its seeds could establish in the soil.

Unlike traditional hay, green hay is moved while fresh to maximise the transfer of seeds from native grasses and wildflowers.

Teams cut the meadow by hand before raking the hay into rows and loading it onto trailers. (Image: Chris Fairhead)

Mr Reeves said: "By sharing green hay from a meadow rich in native flora, we're using a simple but highly effective way of introducing native wildflower species to land that was previously farmed.

"The hay contains seeds from a wide variety of grasses and wildflowers, helping speed up the creation of wildlife-rich grassland and increasing space for nature across the wider landscape."

The new meadow, spread across a 5.8-hectare field, is expected to support species including the chalkhill blue butterfly and skylark birds.

The project is part of the National Trust’s Reimagining Project, which aims to expand habitats, support wildlife recovery and promote regenerative land management.

Paul Collins, area ranger at Hinton Ampner, said: "Historically, the landscape between St Catherine’s Hill and Hinton Ampner would have been connected before it was fragmented by housing, farming and roads.

"By bringing our organisations together and sharing resources, we're helping to recreate some of those lost connections and create more space for wildlife to thrive."

The hay was collected from a meadow managed by HIWWT as part of its conservation management programme, which supports species-rich grassland by preventing scrub growth and reducing soil nutrients.