17/09/16 - Green Hay

Over the last few weeks our volunteers have been busy helping us to cut the meadow at Thornton Ellers - and in incredibly hot temperatures! After the team had cut the hay with the allen scythe and raked it into piles, it was forked on to the trailer. 

The first load was then taken over to Leven Carrs near Beverley, where the hay is being used as a green seed source. Leven is just one of a number of grassland recreation sites in the county involved in this type of project, and over the next few weeks further loads will be heading off to help one of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves. 

Throughout the day our volunteers also helped to bale some of the meadow using the mini-baler – the bales made will be used for habitat piles, duck traps, animal feed and starting some of our bonfires to get rid of all that excess scrub. 

During lunch the team enjoyed watching the butterflies and bees feeding on the Devil’s-bit Scabious in the meadow – with a Painted Lady and Small Copper being the highlight. As always many thanks to the team for their efforts.