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Wildflower meadows are an important part of the cultural
heritage of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
and they support a wide range of native plants and animals. The
AONB team are keen to increase the number, quality and connectivity
of species-rich grassland habitat within the AONB and a range of
activities will take place this year including the first wildflower
survey of all roadside verges in the AONB, surveys of 60 hectares
of meadow habitat and an invitation to local people to create a
visual record of which species flower in their local verges.
The roadside verge survey will be completed between April and June and is being undertaken by experienced volunteers. The purpose of the verge survey is to record the location of verges with a high number and variety of wildflowers and any sites that could potentially be restored to full bloom. This information can then be used to inform North Yorkshire County Council of special verges in the AONB and to target potential verges for management by teams of local volunteers. The hay meadow survey is needed to support a hay meadow restoration project within Nidderdale AONB which will continue until 2015. Between 2012 and 2015 the AONB hopes to restore 80 hectares of species rich hay meadow in over 50 fields. Hay meadow habitat will be restored using seed sourced from local meadows which have been traditionally managed and retain a high number and variety of wildflowers. Using locally sourced seed ensures that the species mix is appropriate to recreate the local habitat type and ensures that funding is retained within the local community. To complement the verge and meadow survey work, the Friends of
Nidderdale AONB invite anyone who is interested in recording and
illustrating wildflowers in verges near where they live in the
AONB, to help bring together a record of which species flower this
year. This recording can be in photographs, drawings, paintings, or
a written record based on a flower key. There is no restriction on
size or content and drawings can be based on a single flower, plant
or group of plants or a verge side view! A display of the visual
recordings will be held at the Nidderdale Agricultural Society Show
in September and contributions should be sent to the AONB Office
(The Old Workhouse, King Street, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, HG3
5LE) by 1st September. If you would like your work to be
returned please mark it clearly with your name and contact
details.
Ted Flexman, Friends of Nidderdale AONB Trustee said, "Our
verges and meadows contain a valuable remnant of what was once more
widely spread and it is hoped the work planned for 2012 will help
many people appreciate what we have, value the variety and we hope
enjoy what grows freely in places throughout our Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty!"
If you would like more information on any of the above
initiatives, please contact Kelly Harmar at the AONB Office on
01423 556035 or by email at kelly.harmar@harrogate.gov.uk
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