Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s newest nature reserve is now open.
The trust is welcoming visitors to the special hay meadows at Bowber Head Farm near Ravenstonedale until July 12.
Two new walks through the meadows have been opened up just for this three week period, when they’ll be at their best. You’re invited to come along, take a leaflet and enjoy a self-directed tour of this lovely nature reserve.
Bowber Head Farm lies between Kirkby Stephen and Sedbergh and is renowned for its flower-rich hay meadows, which cover some 30 acres.
The meadows contain an exceptionally rare mix of flowers, such as wood crane’s-bill, melancholy thistle, great burnet, saw-wort and lady’s mantles.
These meadows are only found in Northern England and parts of Scotland and the trust is working with local farmers to bring the meadows back to top condition for wildlife, following a decline in the quality of the grasslands over the last 20 years.
Stephen Trotter, chief executive of Cumbria Wildlife Trust said: “They’re known locally as ‘herbie’ meadows due to the huge number of flowering herbs in them, such as wood crane’s-bill, greater burnet and lady’s mantles.
“Only 900 hectares of these upland hay meadows survive across the counties of northern England today. We acquired this land as part of our 30 by 30 target. We want to see 30 per cent of land and sea to be protected for nature’s recovery by 2030.
“Sadly, over the last 50 years species-rich hay meadows have declined by 97 per cent.
“Our work at Bowber Head Farm will ensure that these meadows remain safe and secure, as we focus on restoring the meadows back to being the very best.
“Northern hay meadows like these are important for the wealth of plants they support.
“We estimate there are as many as 208 plant species here. These plants can provide food for bees and pollinators and many different animals, including the brown hare, skylark, curlew, lapwing and twite. We look forward to welcoming visitors in the coming weeks and telling them more about this important habitat and why we’re saving it.”
Bowber Head Farm was transferred to Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 2020. The meadows are scheduled as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Entry to the meadows is free.
