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What can I do?

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Visit a hay meadow

If you would like to visit a hay meadow in the Peak District, and experience for yourself the abundance of flowers, wealth of colour and sounds of wildlife, then here are some good examples you could try. 

But remember, it is essential you keep to the public footpath and observe the Countryside Code in order to avoid trampling the farmer’s crop and disturbing the wildlife. Go during the summertime to see it at its best!

Wolfscote Dale, east  of the A515, between Hartington and Ilam
Why not try this circular walk (about 5kms) and take in a wide variety of White Peak habitats, including some great hay meadows?  Click to download the route instructions.

Hard Rake, west of Bakewell, from the B5055

Follow the footpath from Grid Ref: SK 4158 3685 and you will soon be walking through fantastic hay meadows.  This area of land is owned by the Peak District National Park Authority (purchased with the help of a Heritage Lottery Grant) and the hay meadows here support a total of 43 species.  Look out for ox-eye daisy, hay rattle, cowslip and field scabious. If you are feeling energetic, park in Taddington Dale (Grid Ref: SK 4170 3706) and walk south along Deep Dale.

Stoney Middleton, on the A623

Take the footpath that leaves the village High Street and heads south towards Coombs Dale (SK 4229 3754). Fairly soon after leaving the road, the footpath take a sharp turn to the right in a westward direction.  This field is carefully managed as a hay meadow (Grid Ref: SK 4228 3752) by Mr Mason and contains a rich variety of flowers. If you drive to Stoney Middleton then please ensure that you park in a suitable place.

Bradwell, on the B6049

Bradwell has some of the finest hay meadows in the National Park.  You can catch the bus to Bradwell or park your car on the main road in a designated space.  The footpath starts at Grid Ref: SK 4174 3811 on Soft Water Lane.  Through a squeeze stile, the path crosses a number of excellent hay meadows.  Look out for ox-eye daisy, hay rattle and a few different types of orchid.  Some of these fields are owned by Newburgh Engineering Co. (who have a large factory in Bradwell) and it is due to the company's approach to management of these fields that they have retained their fantastic diversity of wild flowers.

To find out public transport information download our Biodiversity Action Sheet 3.

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Take action

If you would like to help safeguard the future of hay meadows here are some actions you could take:

Set up a small hay meadow area in your garden. You can buy hay meadow seed to get going (this helps small enviro-businesses starting to make a better income from their hay meadows by marketing the seed). Then it only requires cutting once a year in late summer - easy maintenance when compared with a lawn!

Encourage your neighbours to do the same. By creating these small pockets of meadow habitats you are helping to provide corridors and links from site to site which help the survival of animal species by providing them with a larger habitat resource.

Buy products that are sourced from hay meadows such as certain toiletries, honey, medicines. By buying from these enviro-businesses you are increasing the income of farmers managing hay meadows, and so helping to ensure their survival.

Find out more about hay meadows by visiting our archive.

For more ideas on how you can help wildlife go to our Biodiversity Action Sheets or visit our Taking Part section.

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