Haytime Rescue, Forest of Bowland

We will bolster the population of rare plant species in the Forest of Bowland, and extend and manage the habitats where they occur with the support of farmers and volunteers. Work will focus on hay meadows and flower rich pastures; species to include Melancholy thistle, globeflower, birds eye primrose.

Propagation of plug plants of specific rare and declining species will be undertaken by collecting seed from sites in the AONB with sustainable populations. Help from specialist growers at Kew Gardens will support this process.

Volunteers will foster’ the plug plants, until large enough to be planted out. Specific sites have been selected to receive the plug plants, volunteers will help plant them out and then monitor the sites as establishment takes place.

On-going field scale restoration of hay meadows across Bowland of specific sites to restore the network of species-rich sites will be facilitated.

Open days and training courses for volunteers will help long term sustainability of the project