Hay meadows restored in 2008 burst into colour this June, confirming that Hay-Day's 2008 restoration work is a success. Hay-Day, Cumbria's hay meadow project run by Cumbria FWAG and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, has now taken this experience of using seed from existing wild flower meadows and embarked on further restoration work. It is working with contractors, farmers and Natural England Project Officers in Ravenstonedale, Orton, Little Asby, Keswick and the Newlands Valley. In total, seed has been introduced to a further 10 meadows, which amounts to just over 20 ha.

Bunty Wright, Hay-Day Adviser, said: 'It was with some trepidation that we walked into the meadow in June this year to assess the impact of introducing wild flower seed in August 2008.  The results have been rewarding and we can now say that the methods used in the project work well for species like yellow rattle, eyebright and red clover. This has spurred us on to complete further restorations this year.'

However, this summer's weather has brought extra challenges to the hay meadow restoration process. One of the difficulties encountered is trying to coordinate the harvesting of the seed from a species-rich donor meadow with the preparation of the receptor meadow, beginning with taking a crop of hay. Bunty said: 'Often this summer we only had two consecutive days of dry weather - which can be enough to collect seed with a quad bike and brush harvester but not long enough to cut, turn and dry a hay crop'.

'Tom Lorains in the Newlands Valley had exactly this problem when we helped him restore three meadows at High Snab.  Seed was harvested from species-rich meadows at Robert Tysons' Moor Farm, Keswick in early August but Tom was unable to make hay and clear the fields ready for ground preparation until two weeks later!'

Consequently, in order to make the project work, the seed was dried and stored. Open Space contactors have nursery glasshouses at Orton Grange, near Carlisle, where the seed was laid out to dry on benches and turned on a regular basis (much like making hay) for up to a week before being bagged up for later use.

Luckily, the weather held for two days last week. The meadows at High Snab were scarified to create pockets of soil for seed germination using a pasture rejuvenator, which works well on soft ground. The following day we took the plunge and spread the seed, using a mini muck spreader, despite weather warnings of heavy rain. All that remains now is for a few dry days so the ground is dry enough to roll to ensure the seeds are embedded. Only next spring will it be possible to see the results of this hard work and to see what wild flowers emerge.

Bunty Wright will be on hand at the Hay-Day at the Westmorland Show on 10 September. Come and find her, catch up on the latest news on the project and learn about how you can get involved.