Meadows are open areas of grassland, untouched by artificial fertilisers and closed to grazing animals during the spring and summer months. They are characterised by a wealth of colourful flowers before they are cut and turned back into grazing land during the winter. With their variety of wild flowers and grasses they form an important habitat for many species of insect and other invertebrates.
Flower-rich meadows have evolved over hundreds of years through a combination of hay cutting and winter grazing. While pasture is grassland that is generally grazed throughout the year, meadows are closed to animal grazing in spring. The plants are left to grow and set seed until mid to late summer when the hay crop is harvested. The cut hay is left to dry for a few days before being baled up, collected and stored for use as animal fodder. After a few weeks growth the meadows are then grazed from late summer or autumn until the following spring.
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