Farm Life - hay meadows

from Molton Monthly June 2021

June 21st is the date the country is expected to return largely to ‘normal’ following the various stages of lockdown. However, with the so-called ‘Indian Variant’ of Covid-19 did you know, it’s actually called B.1.617 currently experiencing a surge in several parts of England, it’s possible the Prime Minister might have to put the brakes on his ‘roadmap’.

by Roger Hill

Traditional hay meadows are not so common nowadays. In fact haymaking itself has been overtaken by silage and haylage which are less dependent on a spell of sunny weather.

June still evokes memories of days gone by, with the sweet smell of newly cut grass evolving into that unmistakable aroma of harvested hay. I remember the whole village turning out to help gather the bales on a warm summer’s evening. It was a social event, yes hard work, but their reward was a hearty supper and plenty of cider. Today it is highly mechanised with the only contact between drivers being their mobile phones.

We only make a few bales nowadays but in the middle of winter, when the strings are cut, the clock returns to those June summer days. Thankfully hay meadows are now being saved to encourage wildlife and pollinators. They can also bring vital nutrients up from within the soil.

Personally hay making brings back nostalgia for me. I’m not sure though if I could now face the prospect of pitching several thousand bales on to the trailer by hand. Oh the enthusiasm of youth!

‘Til next time, Roger #TuppertheTractor (website: quoit-at-cross.co.uk)