Education Continued

Wild Grass and Flower Enriched Grassland (Jl)

Hedgerows

Many of the hedges on the farm are being improved over the next 5 years with support from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme under the Hedgerow Incentive Scheme. Some of the hedges are being laid, while others are coppiced and gapped up. In other areas new hedges are to be planted with a mixture of species to provide an attractive boundary of conservation value.

Drystone Walls These are a very characteristic feature of upland farms, and there are approximately 6000m of drystone walls on Keasbeck Hill Farm. These are gradually being renovated where required with National Park and MAFF assistance. You can view the stages in the construction of a drystone stone wall, at the demonstration site (D1) built by the BTCV in 1997. Note the interesting feature at (D2), a walled ditch with a hedge planted along the top. Traditionally hedge planting was carried out on the top of a soil filled wall or bank.

Objects of Stewardship

The Stewardship land at Keasbeck Hill Farm consists of around 14 hectares of grassland entered in the Upland option of the Stewardship scheme in two blocks of land (Broadlands and Cow Garth). 2.8ha's is existing grassland (G1), which is now managed less intensively and the remaining 11.2ha's (G2) is recreation of a traditional species rich meadow. On all the Stewardship land open access, as well as educational access, is encouraged.

Land management under Stewardship

Existing permanent grassland (G 1)

These meadows were already supporting a variety of wildflower and grass species, and the aim is to encourage greater diversity through appropriate management. When making hay or silage, cutting after 25 July at least 1 year in 3 allows flowers and grasses to seed. Cutting should leave a sward height of 1" - 2", as should any aftermath grazing. An annual dressing of farmyard manure (not slurry) may be applied to land for hay/silage and no pesticides or inorganic fertilisers can be applied. From 1 August to 25 March rolling and chain harrowing may be carried out. Ploughing, reseeding, drainage and other operations which may damage the wildlife interest are not allowed.

New traditional meadows (G2)

These meadows were sown with a grass and wildflower seed mixture under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in 1992 and 1994. The mix included the following flower species: Black Knapweed, Lady's Bedstraw, Meadow Cranesbill, Burnet, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Ribwort Plantain, Cowslip, Selfheal, Meadow Buttercup, Sheep's Parsley, Caraway, Goat's Beard, Oxeye Daisy, Basil, Common Vetch, Cowslip and Wild Pansy. And the following grasses: Browntop, Meadow Foxtail, Crested Dogstail, Chewings Fescue, Slender Red Fescue, Smooth Meadow Grass and Yellow Oatgrass. After establishment the meadow is managed as above.

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