12:21pm Saturday 10th May 2008
By Michael Black
A programme of summer-long events has been launched to celebrate the hay meadows of the Yorkshire Dales.
The national park authority and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust have teamed up to bring events to the Dales from plant studies to walks, farm walks and rag-rug making.
The celebrations run to September and aim to highlight the bio-diversity and cultural heritage of the national park's hay meadows and are taking place at specific venues.
The ecological importance of the colourful meadows has already been recognised with the launch in 2006 of the Hay Time Project by the YDNPA and YDMT. Hay time project officer Pippa Rayner was appointed by the trust to help to conserve and restore the area's hay meadows.
The Hay Time Project aims to transform 140 hectares of hay meadow to its former glory by encouraging farmers to revert to more traditional management.
The purpose of the festival also aims to promote sustainability within the national park.
Visit: ydmt.org/page.php? page=haytime for details.
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