Monitoring: Meadows were randomly selected by draw and the first 12 meadows were surveyed in 2007.    

Monitoring team: Barn Hill Conservation Group participated in the monitoring of the meadows with assistance from Leslie Williams of Brent Council Parks Service.  Particular thanks are due to Simon Mercer for surveying several meadows.  Simon also updated the Access database to accommodate the data for the year. 

Species:   Details of the occurrence and frequency of each species are held in a database which includes data on over 200 species that have been recorded in the meadows since 1985.  The following briefly mentions some species of note for 2007.  Species are listed with frequencies based on the proportion of one-metre square quadrats in which the species was recorded.  Ten quadrats were surveyed in each of 12 meadows. 

Structurally, the most dominant grass in late June was False Oat Grass (Arrenatherum elatius) which occurred at an average frequency of 97% in 2007. 

Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) was recorded at a frequency of 72%, slightly higher than in 2006 and the highest since the meadow monitoring commenced in 1985.

Meadow Brome (Bromus commutatus var commutatus) was recorded at a frequency of 33%.   

Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) was recorded at 43% and Creeping Buttercup at (R. repens) at 9%, both higher than the lows recorded in 2006.  Both these species are considered to be affected by dry weather during recent, previous, summers.   (Note that the summer of 2007 was considered to be one of the wettest on record).

Hairy Tare (Vicia hirsuta) was present at a frequency of 39%; and Common Vetch (Vicia sativa) at 30%, both lower than in 2006, while Smooth Tare (V. tetrasperma) was recorded at a higher frequency (20%) compared with 2006.  A new species for the meadows (and for the Country Park) was V. faba (Broad Bean) found growing in Little Cherrylandes (coincidentally or not, the nearest meadow to the Old Kenton Lane allotments).

The population of Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense) appeared to be lower, at 13%, than in 2006.  Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) was present at less than 1%.  Hoary Ragwort (Senecio erucifolius) was recorded in three meadows; and Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) in one meadow.  A plant of Hemlock (Conium maculatum) was recorded and removed from one meadow.  This appeared to be part of a population that had established in nearby hedgerows and on mounds following fly-tipping and roadside mounding in the late 1980s.

Management: Despite national advertising there were no offers to harvest the hay in 2006.  All the fields were flail cut in the early autumn; and the flail cuttings were left on the ground.  A couple of enquires were received, and made, after the end of the season and these will be followed-up for 2008. 

Details of field management records are being placed on a separate database which will also include other data about each meadow.

Soil Association Organic Standard: The certification was retained throughout the year.  Masons Field (the extension to the Country Park) is ‘In Conversion’ status, as are the organically-managed woodlands. 

Countryside Stewardship:  The hay meadows were in a Countryside Stewardship agreement administered by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which concluded in 2006.  An application was made for an  Environmental Stewardship agreement.  

Barn Hill Conservation Group: BHCG were active in conserving the meadow habitat throughout the year and in undertaking Blackthorn control where it was encroaching onto the meadows.   

Hay Watch: As there was no hay harvesting, there was no need for a ‘Hay Watch’ during the year.

Leslie Williams