Hannah Hauxwell's wildflower meadow

13 comments

Yesterday I went to see the old farm of Hannah Hauxwells, the ‘Daleswoman’ in the yorks Dales.

Her wildflower meadow is beautiful, full off colour and insects. It now belongs to The Durham Wildlife Trust.
This extract is from their website:

Hannah’s Meadow
Spanning 8.8 hectares, this stretch of grassland dates back to 1944 and contains a significant plant community such as the endangered adder’s tongue, marsh marigold, meadow foxtail and sweet vernal grass. A haven for wildlife such as the lapwing, skylark and meadow pipit, the meadows and pasture at Hannah’s Meadow have evolved as a result of traditional farming practices over several centuries. Living alone at Low Birk Hatt Farm without the luxury of electricity or running water, Hannah Hauxwell was the subject of a hugely popular documentary called Too Long A Winter, which chronicled the back breaking work and harsh conditions Hannah faced while farming here. Hannah retired in 1988 and the meadows are now a nature reserve. Midsummer is the best time to visit Hannah’s Meadows for the meadow flora, but visitors must share their view with the sheep who graze here. Hunderthwaite, Durham www.durhamwt.co.uk

It was strangely touching, standing in her world, albeit a summery one and not the freezing cold, damp one that she more usually inhabited.

This next view is from the barn where she kept her few cows, now scrupulously clean.

29 Jun, 2016
11 likes

Comments

Paulspatch

A great tribute to her work for the wildlife of the area (that the Durham Wildlife trust have continued it)

29 Jun, 2016

Steragram

Long may it continue - the skylarks alone are reason enough to protect it.

29 Jun, 2016

Bloomer

A lovely sight,and what a legacy for an amazing lady..I remember the Documentary so well..and living with just the barest of amenities,she was a real survivor..I feel a bit of a wimp,as we had the gas fire on this morning,it was so cold ! :o) Thank you for sharing...

29 Jun, 2016

Lori

Inspirational! I aspire to a meadow too. Don't think I could ever match this though. ..and the old cattle byre! Living without the amenities of running water and electricity is only a century gone. Life was challenging...getting up at the crack of dawn to bring in the water cranked up by the bucket-full from an old deep well...milking the cows and turning them out to pasture then going indoors and starting the fires to warm it for washing and boiling a kettle for tea. Imagine all that labour before you could start on the indoor work..?

8 Jul, 2016

Steragram

Lori we should count our blessings every day!

9 Jul, 2016

Resinone

What amazed me though, when she was asked about her flowers, she replied that she had never known any plant names, she just admired them for their pretty colours.

9 Jul, 2016

Steragram

Oops, sorry Resinone - don't know why I typed Lori....not only wrong name but wrong continent...

9 Jul, 2016

Sheilabub

How lovely to see Hannah's meadow - what a beautiful and inspiring place. And yes, I remember the programme about her too - it definitely made me realise how comfortable most of our lives are in comparison.

3 Aug, 2016

Resinone

I've recently watched it again on youtube, just type in 'Hannah Hauxwell, too long a winter', like a different world, well, it was!
? lol stera,what's a continent between goy friends!

3 Aug, 2016

Lori

Only the Atlantic Ocean! and the North Atlantic Current...;-)

3 Aug, 2016

Resinone

3 Aug, 2016

Steragram

I've just watched the video - wow, its a different way of life all right!

4 Aug, 2016