Hannah's Meadow Balderdale

North Pennines

Hannah's' Meadow

Hannah's Meadow is situated in the heart of the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which comprises one of the most extensive and remote areas of upland England. The area has a distinctive character and a unique historic heritage consisting of uninhabited heather moor lands intersected by green, settled dales.

An Evolving Landscape

Apart from the highest land, the whole area was originally covered in woodland, which has progressively been cleared over the centuries as the land has been settled. Mining of lead and other minerals attracted large numbers of settlers and these farmer-miners established small holdings up to very high altitudes. The resultant landscape in the Upper Dales is open moor lands with a patchwork of small walled hay meadows and field barns.

Hannah Hauxwell

Hannah Hauxwell's Legacy

The meadows and pasture have evolved as a result of traditional farming practices over several centuries. They were previously owned and farmed by Hannah Hauxwell for over 50 years. Hannah became well known in the 1980s when she was chanced upon by Bob Langley, then a reporter for Tyne Tees Television, while he was walking the Pennine Way. Living alone at Low Birk Hat Farm without the luxury of electricity or running water, Hannah's self-sufficiency so impressed Langley that a full documentary followed. The sight of Hannah making her way down to her local beck and breaking the ice to collect water put into context the 'I'm alright Jack' eighties and Hannah captured the nation's heart. She was awarded the ' Woman of the Year Award' and became a national celebrity.

Despite her limited experiences, Hannah showed that she possessed a high intellect as well as natural common sense. She took advantage of her fame to widen her horizons travelling abroad to Rome and America. She has since written several best sellers recounting her life in the Dales. Hannah has now retired and lives in a small house in Cotherstone a little way down the dale. Sometimes she is asked if she misses her old way of life and her answer is always the same. No!

A Special Place for Wildlife

Hannah had farmed the land using the traditional methods that avoided adding artificial fertilisers or re-seeding. Instead she farmed the fields for hay and pasture thus maintaining the rich variety of wildlife that has evolved over the centuries. Hannah retired in 1988 and the meadows and pasture were bought by Durham Wildlife Trust who now manage them as a nature reserve.

The meadows are considered to be some of the least improved and most species-rich in upland Durham and as such have been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The grass sward is dominated by meadow fox-tail, sweet vernal grass and crested dog's tail with an abundance of wild flowers, including ragged robin, wood crane's-bill, marsh marigold, yellow rattle, adder's tongue fern and globeflower.

The pasture has a more acidic character with rushes and sedges dominating and this supports breeding birds such as lapwing, skylark, redshank, curlew and meadow pipit.

Protecting The Meadow

In order to maintain this special wildlife resource

Skylark

 Durham Wildlife Trust continues to manage the Reserve by traditional methods.

Sheep lamb in the spring in the hay meadows followed by some much spreading. Stock are removed until late July when the hay crop is cut. The grass is the allowed to grow and cows graze the fog (late grass) in September/October. Sheep are brought back into the meadows to run with the tup in November before the winter rest period. The cycle then begins again in the spring.

The dry stone walls require regular maintenance and the barn has been restored using local stone to provide an unmanned visitor centre providing information about Hannah and her special meadows.

Please Take Care

You are welcome to visit Hannah's Meadow but it is important to realised that it is grazed for much of the year and therefore please close gates behind you. Dogs must be kept on a leash and please take your litter home with you. The best time to see the meadows is in late June and early July.

How To Get There

From Barnard Castle follow the B6277 to Romaldkirk and then

ragged robin

 follow the Balderhead road via Hunderthwaite. The Reserve is adjacent to the public road approx. 1.5 mile east of the Balderhead Reservoir Car Park. The Pennine Way footpath runs through the Reserve.

Map

Parking is limited by the side of the road.

Places Nearby:

Bow Lees Visitor Centre

High Force Waterfall

downtownUK

Days Out

Hannah's Meadow Balderdale