Farmers working with the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) helped restore more than 16 hectares of hay meadows. That’s the equivalent of 23 soccer fields.
The project, supported by BMW UK and the National Parks Partnership’s Recharge in Nature initiative, has breathed new life into farmland across the region, while promoting sustainable farming and wildlife recovery.
Between June and September 2025, the team worked with farmers in Colinfield, Loweswater, Embleton and Newlands Valley to identify suitable sites for restoration.
Native wildflower seeds were sown from nearby donor meadows, and locally bred plants were introduced to facilitate the return of species-rich grasslands.
Claire Foster, LDNPA’s agriculture officer, said the restored pastures “will support a variety of flora and fauna while playing an important role in livestock farming in the Lake District”.
He added that this work “would not have been possible without funding from BMW’s Recharge in Nature project” and praised Cumbria Wildlife Trust as a key delivery partner.
(Photo provided by LDNPA)
Cumbria Wildlife Trust grassland and pollinator team leader Tanya St Pierre said the initiative was a team effort. “This project builds on the collaborative efforts of farmers, landowners, conservation groups and many others who want to ensure a bright future for agriculture and nature in the Lake District.”
Farmers participating in the scheme say they are already seeing benefits. Crosthwaite farmer Sandy Friend Thornton sowed native wildflower seeds on 3.2 acres of land to enhance traditional hay habitat.
“We want to keep the soil healthier,” she said. “We are trying to improve soil health so that traditional farming methods can benefit from the species-rich environment that hay meadows create.”
Friend Thornton added that the meadow she restored could one day help others in the area. “In a few years, if it is successful, we will be able to become a donor field and pass the seeds on to other fields.”
