Nature Recovery Schemes Report April 2025

Below is an updated summary of the current status of several “Nature Recovery” schemes for which funding and volunteer support through AFLHS grant applications is either ongoing or planned.

Schemes Adjacent to the Public Footpath in Austwick

Both the landowners adjacent to the public footpath agreed in the autumn to take part in a scheme to prepare and sow wild flowers on their land adjacent to the public footpath. The first section (owned by Pip and Alec Rigby) has been sown with EM3 wild flower seeds and yellow rattle seed in the spring. These seeds were paid for by money advanced from the Open Gardens event this summer. Some plug plants have also been provided more recently by volunteers comprising primroses, ox-eye daisies, knapweed and melancholy thistle. It is likely that the yellow rattle and plug plants will flower this year, but the EM3 seed is more likely to appear next spring (2026).

The land owner (Kath Hartley) of the woodland area adjacent to the footpath meanwhile developed a plan of action through landscape designer Margaret Wilding for the adjoining plot and the work is now virtually complete including substantial wall repairs, tree felling adjacent to overhead power cables, ground preparation and planting of plug plants, shrubs and trees and sowing woodland seeds. As above, the woodland seeds including bluebells and snowdrops are likely to germinate this spring but not begin to flower until at least next spring (2026). Volunteers undertook the ground preparation and provided plug plants (primroses and snowdrops).

The procedure for sowing wild flower seed have been informed by the experiences of developing the hay meadow at Austwick cemetery. The first season following seed sowing is typically disappointing and flowers only begin to make a significant showing in the second and subsequent seasons. But it is well worth the wait and everyone is encouraged to visit the cemetery wild flower hay meadow this spring.

Feizor Hay Meadow Restoration Scheme

A large grant application was submitted by AFLHS in March to the Dry Rigg Environmental Fund in order to allow the restoration of a traditional hay meadow near Feizor, adjacent to the public footpath. The two farming families who own the field/ wall boundaries have kindly given approval to the scheme which will comprise strimming of encroaching brambles on one side of the field by a local contractor, followed by sowing a wild meadow seed mix by volunteers. The half of the field with an existing hay meadow (the Feizor side) will also be strimmed and additional wild flowers sown or plug-planted. The scheme also includes substantial repairs to the dry-stone wall and new fencing to keep stock out of the field, and strimming over the next 3 years each autumn by a contractor to maintain the hay meadow sward. Unfortunately during the consultation stage a single objection has been lodged by Natural England because (unknown to us) part of the site is in the Oxenber wood SSSI, and discussions are ongoing on how this issue can be addressed.

Sand Martin Nest Box

This scheme comprises a 12-bird artificial nest box to be made by local volunteers (timber and accessories cost c. £450) and located in a field adjacent to Austwick Beck with the land owner’s permission. Sand martins typically reconnoitre new nests in the first season and will hopefully occupy the nests the following season. A small grant application for the timber and other materials for this scheme was approved by YDMT in April and work on constructing the nest is expected to start as soon as possible. Volunteers will be needed to move and locate the box on the edge of Austwick Beck once the nesting box is constructed.

Nature Friendly Gardening Questionnaire

Members of AFLHS were recently sent a questionnaire on Nature Friendly Gardening. Thank you to all those who responded. Results of the survey will be published soon.

Further Schemes

All AFLHS members are invited to suggest further local Nature Recovery Schemes for consideration by the AFLHS sub-committee, especially in Wharfe, Eldroth and Lawkland.

Graham Cleverly

AFLHS Chair