Image: Loughborough Big Meadow - geograph.org.uk - 422808

Description: Loughborough Big Meadow (SSSI). This is one of the few remaining so-called 'Lammas Meadows' left in England. These were generally flood-meadows (here it is the River Soar) which remained as open fields. Strips would be allocated to farmers who would be entitled to the hay crop, harvested around Lammas tide. In the case of the Loughborough Meadow, this was subsequently grazed. Strip owners had the right to graze a number of cattle proportional to the size of their strip holding, the meadow remaining unfenced. The Meadow is now a SSSI, managed by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, still using the traditional farming methods. An idea of the variety of meadowland flowers can be seen in this picture.
Title: Loughborough Big Meadow - geograph.org.uk - 422808
Credit: From geograph.org.uk
Author: Alan Murray-Rust
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License: CC BY-SA 2.0
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