Celebrating our marvellous meadows

16 June 2023

A North Pennines farm is opening its gates to the public to celebrate the area’s marvellous meadows, along with the team from the North Pennines AONB Partnership.

The AONB Partnership has worked with the Scott family from Low Way Farm in Holwick as part of the Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Together they will be holding an event for National Meadows Day (1 July) that will celebrate this rare and important habitat for wildflowers, which support a whole range of invertebrates and birds. The North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark contains almost half of the remaining species-rich upland hay meadows in the UK.

This fun, family event runs from 10am to 3pm. It is free to attend and includes:
displays of farming machinery old and new

• displays of machinery used for meadow restoration
• botany walks around the meadows
• arts and craft activities
• an opportunity to look closely at the special species of plants through a microscope
• displays of typical upland hay meadow species grown from hand-collected local seed
• a meadow restoration talk
• historic hay-time photographs

Low Way Farm is easily accessible by car and can also be accessed directly from the Pennine Way, a short walk from either Middleton-in-Teesdale or Bowlees Visitor Centre. The event site is surrounded by upland hay meadows that are typical of the local area.

Teesdale contains an excellent resource of species rich upland hay meadows and High Nature Value farming practices in the uplands mean that many of these meadows continue to be managed in a traditional way that supports biodiversity.

Patrick Oulton, Farming and Nature Officer at the North Pennines AONB Partnership said: “Farming practices in the uplands mean that many of these meadows are being managed in much the same way that they have been for generations, protecting these unique habitats in the North Pennines, while also producing high quality feed for livestock. Even though the machinery available to farmers has changed beyond all recognition from scythes to large tractors and mowers, and from handmade pikes of hay to modern balers, the management regime of upland meadows is similar now to 200 years ago.

“We’re really pleased to be able to invite people along for the day to immerse themselves in the beauty of hay meadows, and also to get a sense of the rich history behind them. We’d like to thank National Lottery players for giving us the opportunity to hold this celebration of hay meadows.”

The North Pennines AONB Partnership has worked with the Scotts at Low Way Farm for over 15 years. The hay meadows were first surveyed as part of the Hay Time project in 2006 and over the years since a number of these valuable meadows have been restored and enhanced by adding species-rich green hay and planting out flowers grown from local, hand-collected seed.

Through the Tees-Swale programme wildflower plants have been planted out to enhance two meadows and the team has hosted several farmer training events on the farm. The camping barn is also being used to host youth groups and schools to learn more about why the area is important and how High Nature Value Farming is preserving the landscape. Equipment to support these visits was funded via the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, funded by Defra and administered by the North Pennines AONB Partnership.

Location: Low Way Farm, Holwick. Car parking is available, accessed from the road towards Holwick (follow signs for The Farmhouse Kitchen) ///addicted.proven.encloses. Or you can access on foot from Middleton-in-Teesdale or Bowlees Visitor Centre via the Pennine Way: ///dark.releasing.going

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. Contact Sarah Hudspeth, Communications Lead at the North Pennines AONB Partnership for further information – communications@northpenninesaonb.org.uk Phone: 07768 123247

2. An image from Low Way Farm is attached. For alternative images please contact Sarah on 01388 528801 or email communications@northpenninesaonb.org.uk

3. About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK. More than £30 million raised each week goes to good causes across the UK.