TELEVISION presenter and actor Larry Lamb visited a wildflower hay meadow in full bloom on Discovering Britain.
Last summer Sarah Robinson, Bowland hay time officer at the Clapham-based Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, met Mr Lamb in the ancient Bell Sykes hay meadows near Slaidburn, where they were filmed talking about species-rich hay meadows.
The programme is due to be broadcast on More4 tonight at 9pm.
As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Bell Sykes is exceptional and, in 2013, was designated the Coronation Meadow for Lancashire as part of the national campaign celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.
Parts of Bell Sykes meadows are home to moisture-loving plants, and in contrast the upper fields include a colourful mix of meadow crane’s-bill, melancholy thistle, yellow rattle, eyebrights, pignut, buttercups and lady’s mantle which prefer dry conditions.
Sarah said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to show off these very special meadows. Larry seemed genuinely fascinated by the whole hay meadow experience. I hope that Wednesday’s programme opened some more eyes to the beauty of our species-rich meadows, and helped people to understand the vital role they play as a habitat for pollinators and rare species.”
Over the past 50 years, 97 per cent of meadows in the UK have been lost through agricultural intensification, making them one of our most threatened habitats. Only 1000 hectares (less than 4 square miles) survived, putting many of our native wildlife species, and links with our cultural heritage, at risk.
Through the Hay Time project, the Millennium Trust and The Forest of Bowland AONB have worked with landowners and partners to restore more than 600 hectares (over 2 square miles) of degraded meadows across the region so far, helping to save this precious habitat for future generations.