Rowing Up

Thursday, September 17th 2020

More autumn sunshine meant perfect conditions to continue with the haymaking in the wildflower meadow. The swathes of hay left by the tractor on Tuesday had dried well on top but underneath they were damp and green. Using wooden hay rakes, the grass was turned over so that the other side of the long piles was exposed to the sun.

The number of rows was reduced by raking each one into an adjacent one. In modern times this is done using machinery however today it was done in the old fashioned way; a process known as 'rowing up'.

It was hard work in the hot conditions but with several determined staff and volunteers it was completed in only a few hours.

The end result was a satisfying pattern of rows that are ready to be baled by a tractor at the weekend. The forecast is good so the grasses will continue to dry over the next couple of days. The raking not only helps to turn the cuttings over to dry, it also helps to scatter the many varied wildflower seeds which will grow next year.

Thank you and well done everyone! Same time next year?

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