26-06-2025
The search is on for Fermanagh's best hay meadows
ULSTER Wildlife, with the support of the Vaughan Trust, is inviting local farmers to showcase their traditional hay meadows in a new competition aimed at preserving one of Northern Ireland's rarest farmland habitats.
Farmers in Fermanagh are being encouraged to enter the newly launched Fermanagh Hay Meadow Competition, a unique opportunity to gain recognition, and a financial reward, for managing species-rich hay meadows in a traditional, environmentally sensitive way.
Fermanagh remains one of the last strongholds of these once widespread habitats, which have become increasingly rare due to modern farming practices.
The decline in traditional hay meadows has led to a corresponding loss in wildlife species and the gradual disappearance of haymaking knowledge and customs that were once essential to rural life.
Historically, hay meadows played a vital role in the survival of farms, providing essential winter fodder. Traditional meadow management went far beyond cutting hay; it also involved trimming hedges in winter to maximise sunlight exposure and maintaining 'sheughs' (ditches) to keep fields dry.
Traditional hay meadows are characterised by low soil fertility and a late summer cut, which encourages a diversity of wildflowers and grasses.
These meadows vary from field to field - some dazzle with yellow and white ox-eye daisies on drier land, while wetter meadows take on a purple hue with ragged robin. These habitats support a range of wildlife including bumblebees, butterflies, grasshoppers, and birds such as skylarks and meadow pipits.
To be eligible for the competition, the primary use of the field must be for hay production. However, meadows that are occasionally harvested for big bale silage - due to challenging weather - will still be considered.
The competition is open to all farmers in Fermanagh who manage a traditional hay meadow, regardless of whether the field is enrolled in the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS).
Judging will take place in early July 2025. A panel will assess entries based on the overall management of the field, the diversity of wildflowers present, and the general condition of the sward.
The top three meadows will receive cash prizes: £500 for first place, £250 for second place, and £150 for third.
Farmers wishing to take part should email their application to including their name, address, contact number, and the area of the hay meadow. The deadline for entries is 1st July 2025.
