FRYENT COUNTRY PARK : HAY WATCH

Hay harvesting is due to commence at Fryent Country Park once dry and settled weather has returned.

The hay harvesting has been made possible under an Environmental Stewardship agreement with Natural England.

For conservation purposes the meadows have been divided into valuable semi-improved or rough grasslands (HK15); and species-rich grasslands (HK7).

Meadows will be managed in one of two ways. The majority of the meadows will be harvested while leaving uncut a tenth of the area of each meadow. This will be a different area from that left uncut last year. The purpose of the uncut area is to encourage the conservation of invertebrates.

Five of the meadows (Lower Hydes East, Lyon Field, honey Slough West and East, and Half Yardes Meade) will have all of their area harvested. These fields are being managed to encourage a particular type of meadow grassland.

For both types of meadow there will be some follow-up work in the late summer / autumn to reduce the thatch matt that has built up at the base of the sward.

Visitors are encouraged to visit Fryent Country Park to see the harvest and to keep a watch for potential problems. Peak times are during dry evenings, afternoons and at weekends, in that order. It is best to visit the harvest in groups of two or more.

The last hay harvesting here followed the stages below:

1. The hay (grass and other meadow flowers) is cut during dry weather.
2. The cut material is left on the ground for about 24-48 hours, during which much of the internal water content of the material is lost.
3. Drying is facilitated by using a rotating fork to tedder (spread) the material, allowing air circulation and exposure to the sun.
4. When dry, the hay will be gathered into windrows (swathes of dried hay) prior to baling.
5. If it rains at any stage before collection, the material must be spread and dried again.
6. The hay is transported to the other farm.

For both types of meadow there will be some follow-up work in the late summer / autumn to reduce the thatch matt that has built up at the base of the sward.

Useful Contacts

Office hours: Brent Council Parks Service: telephone 020 8937 5619.

If an urgent situation arises out of office hours ‘phone the main Brent switchboard:
020 8937 1234 and ask for ‘Parks Standby.’ Briefly explain the nature of the urgency to the switchboard operator.

(If an emergency, ‘phone the Police or Fire Service first, if appropriate).

For less urgent enquiries use:

Office hours: Brent Councils Parks Service: telephone 020 8937 5619 (answerphone out of office hours). Ask for Malcolm, Kevin or Leslie.

Roe Green Walled Garden:
volunteer team: (some days): 020 8206 0492

Police: non-emergencies:
Wembley Police: 020 8903 1212
The local Kingsbury Police: 020 8733 4256

The following group activities are being organised during the harvest:
Barn Hill Conservation Group: weekly conservation projects.
Kingsbury Walkers: meet at Bush Farm on Wednesday afternoons at 1.55pm each week
Butterfly Transect: Two transects, walked weekly.