The farmer who cuts our hay for us in exchange for the grazing is usually ready and waiting on or around July the 15^th. Of course, the date is weather dependent, but it is fixed for a good reason. There is still energy in the meadows as they have not yet run completely to seed and the hay is still nutritious. Importantly for us, the annual Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor), which we introduced to help curb the vigour of the grasses has had a chance to seed. The saying goes “When the rattle rattles, it is time to make hay”. And sure enough, when our feet rustle amongst the bladder shaped seedpods, we know the meadows have not much time left for standing.  

This year the meadows were cut a whole three weeks later than usual, because the bailer went up in smoke in the week of the last heatwave. We let out a gentle sigh of relief, because the eerie silence that descends after the hay is harvested is always disquieting. All that habitat swept up over two fast days. First the cut with the hay left to dry in the sun, then the windrowing later in the day to gather it into a giant’s corduroy for easy baling, The next day the dusty commotion of the bailer and, if he can, the farmer collects the same day so all is done and silent by the second evening.