IN the coming weeks people can look forward to seeing the upper Demesnes hay meadow’s wildflowers in full bloom.
The Barnard Castle beauty spot was created by a group of volunteers in 2009 and has grown increasingly abundant with flowers during the past 13 years.
The group was supported in its effort to create the field by botanists Dr Margret Bradshaw and Dr Richard Warren.
They also helped compile a leaflet that describes the species people can see, which is available from a leaflet box near the meadow.
Roger Peat who was one of those involved in the meadow’s creation said: “At the minute it is a carpet of buttercups, but if you really look at it, it is fantastic how many flowers there are.
“In the next few weeks you should see almost everything that is on the leaflet.”
Describing the types of flowers that are already in bloom, Dr Warren said: “Plantain is a really good food for cows and stock. Red clover is also very good for hay.
“There is a little nut at the bottom of the pignut, about the size of a hazel nut, which people used to harvest and eat.
“There are some orchids, but they come later on.”
Other types of flowers include common sorrel, meadow vetchling, meadow saxifrage, yellow rattle, sweet vernal grass and Yorkshire fog.
Dr Warren explained that yellow rattle stops the grass from growing too high and allows the other seeds to germinate and grow.
He added: “There has been a gradual, but significant, diversity of species.”
The meadow’s plants come into flower during April and May, and the hay is cut and baled in July.
During October the grass is grazed by sheep.
