Friar's Point Hay Meadow
Friar's Point Hay Meadow is one of the Vale of Glamorgan's
hidden treasures. Owned by the Vale of Glamorgan Council, it is
located on Friar's point headland on Barry Island.
Friar's Point Meadow is one of the best examples of calcareous,
cowslip dominated hay meadow in South-East Wales. Local residents
have recalled that in years gone by the cowslips used to be so
abundant across the meadow that from distance it "looked like an
oil seed rape field". The rich grassland flora is also home to a
variety of invertebrates including bees, hoverflies, butterflies,
grasshoppers and other insects.
To ensure that the rich biodiversity of Friar's Point Hay Meadow
is maintained, the Vale of Glamorgan Council has undertaken
restoration work at this site and are managing it to preserve the
rich carpet of wild flowers. The work is being undertaken by the
Parks and Grounds Maintenance Section who work closely with
Countryside staff. An annual hay cut is taken at the end of the
summer after the flowers have set seed and the hay crop removed
off-site.
With this management in place, the wildflower carpets at Friar's
Point are getting better year by year.
