The Fight to Save Norfolk's Disappearing Wildflower Meadows
Meet the meadow makers working to protect some of the richest habitats in Britain.
Over the summer, Norfolk Wildlife Trust has been collecting green hay from roadside verges and relic meadows. The seeds it contains create new flower-rich grassland across Norfolk, says Conservation Officer Robert Morgan.
Wildflower meadows are among the richest habitats in Britain, home to an array of flowers, grasses and insects. They have been part of the British landscape for centuries, shaped by low-intensity farming practices such as hay-cutting and grazing.
Often referred to as "ancient meadows," many have existed without ever being ploughed or artificially fertilised. Their continuity of management has allowed them to accumulate astonishing biodiversity: a single meadow can host up to 40 species of flowering plant per square metre, alongside countless pollinating insects, soil organisms and farmland birds.
Author's summary: Efforts to save Norfolk's wildflower meadows.