Traditional Haymaking Comes to Andover as Magnificent Meadows Expands

This summer, CPRE Hampshire’s Magnificent Meadows project reached an exciting milestone as volunteers joined Andover Trees United for a successful week of traditional haymaking at Harmony Woods.

Throughout the week, from 20 – 25 July, participants learned traditional meadow management skills, including how to hone and peen scythe blades, mow with a scythe, rake and turn hay, and use a traditional box baler.

The week marked the expansion of the Magnificent Meadows project into Andover. Now in its third year, the project connects communities with the species-rich chalk grasslands on their doorstep. Working with local partners and landowners, it combines practical conservation with community engagement to help more people understand, value and care for these rare habitats.

The partnership with Andover Trees United builds on the project’s work in Winchester. Together with a new collaboration in Basingstoke with Natural Basingstoke, it is extending the reach of the project across Hampshire.

Training is delivered by CPRE Hampshire and meadow expert Rachel Remnant of Land Lore Consulting, helping communities develop skills to care for their local meadows.

Harmony Woods shows what long-term community action can achieve. Since 2013, Andover Trees United has worked with volunteers, schools and local people to create and improve this species-rich grassland. As the meadow has matured, traditional haymaking has become the next stage of its management.

This year’s prolonged dry weather made mowing challenging, but volunteers adapted their techniques and rose to the task. One of the week’s highlights was seeing experienced volunteers pass on their knowledge to beginners. By the end of the week, new volunteers had gained the confidence to continue managing the meadow by hand.

Together, volunteers produced 18 bales of species-rich hay and around eight drag bags of loose hay. The hay will support local smallholders by providing nutritious feed for livestock and pets. This year, it will be particularly valuable as drought has left many grazing fields short of grass.

The week also included a Harvest Storytelling event, giving visitors the chance to learn about meadow conservation while seeing traditional haymaking in action.

That’s TV visited Harmony Woods to film the volunteers and interview Rachel Remnant, helping share the story with an even wider audience.

Volunteers were supplied with plenty of tea, coffee, chilled water and – best of all – chairs! A huge thank you to Andover Trees United for looking after everyone so well.

Species-rich meadows are one of our most threatened habitats. Since the 1930s, more than 97% have been lost across England and Wales. Projects like Magnificent Meadows are helping reverse that decline by teaching traditional land management skills, supporting landowners and inspiring more people to care for these special places.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, enthusiasm and energy, and especially to Andover Trees United for their warm welcome and partnership.

Want to get involved? Our final Magnificent Meadows events of 2026 will take place in Basingstoke in partnership with Natural Basingstoke. If you’re local and would like to help restore species-rich meadows while learning new skills, register as a Magnificent Meadows volunteer and join us.