In 142 posts over the course of four years, the "A Year On The Field" project has provided a wide range of insights into our agricultural past and present, while at the same time focusing on a particular crop. Whether wheat, flax, potatoes, or hay, the project aimed to provide as global a perspective as possible, comparing different traditions and working methods and, above all, facilitating exchange. We were delighted that, over the past few years, some of our growers have v

Minsterley Meadows are nationally important and are amongst some of the best flowery grasslands in Shropshire and have survived agricultural changes over the years. This has preserved their diversity and gives visitors a chance to see what our countryside would have looked like in the past. On the 1836 Tithe map of the area the two fields are called Alderley Leasow and May Piece.  Designated as an SSSI by Natural England. Approximately 5000 Green Winged-Orchids flower in Apri

Every year countless fawns (the young of a deer) die unnecessary deaths or are injured during the annual mowing of fields. The german measure of “Kitzrettung”, “Save-a-Fawn” offers a solution to this problem of modern haymaking. Fig. 1 "Kitzrettung" in action. (by Jens Gebhardt all rights reserved) Roots of the Problem Does of the different deer species found in Europe or North America typically put down their fawns in fields with high grass to protect them from predators. Th

Our growers Kathy Bethmann and Christopher Brock tell how hay is made at the Burghof Damm: Haymaking starts in the last days of may or early in June at Burghof Damm on a meadow with restricted utilization for the protection of the Dusky Large Blue, a butterfly living on Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis). The meadow is our favourite location for haymaking – it is flat, has a comfortable rectangular shape, there are no obstacles and it is very close to the farm. As the mea