BYLAND HERBORETUM
Ecology meets local culture and rural innovation
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Speed Read
Speed Read
Inspired by the 'curious cures' of Medieval times and the magical powers of plants, we're working with nature to transform the orchard landscape into a kaleidoscope of colour that supports biodiversity, stores carbon and contributes to a sense of wellbeing.
Getting acquainted with what's happening before you ...
Getting acquainted with what's happening before you ...
From the footpath, looking south, immediately before you are very diverse plantings that focus on maximising carbon storage: Nature's Carbon Superstore ('Science Behind the Scenery' explains).
Beyond are waves of plantings designed to create a tapestry of soft colours and fractals to gently relax the mind. Inspired by medieval herbal traditions, the 'Mindful Meadows' are interwoven with herbs, some of which were believed to have magical powers as part of their medicine.
The lowest lying ground harnesses plants as our allies in adapting to a changing climate: with warmer, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers expected in the future across the North York Moors.
What inspired this transformation?
What inspired this transformation?
Although the Orchards host over 130 varieties of top fruit (apples, pears etc.), we noticed the understory had relatively few species. It was dull and lifeless.
Feeding the trees in conventional ways did not fit with our orchard philosophy - but we recognised we couldn't treat the soil as an unlimited resource.
Added to which we faced common, interconnected challenges linked to biodiversity loss and a changing climate.
We wanted an Orchard environment that embraced its rich cultural heritage but also nourished, enriched and energised our plant and wider stakeholder communities.
This got us thinking a lot, researching and creating ideas and solutions ...(click down-arrow for more)
The research and design stage:
The research and design stage:
We were curious to 'lift the hood' to find out more .....
We took soil samples, near the surface and deeper down, and analysed them for a wide range of nutrients and parameters.
We found the soil to be slightly acidic and on the low nutrient side.
🙂 This, it transpired, is good news for establishing wildflower meadows.
So we trialled a wildflower-only patch including chamomile, an annual, and were blown away, not only by the visual feast, but also by the audible buzz. So many insects had joined the party, the sward roared with vibrations from their flapping wings, rubbing legs and other mechanisms.
Our curiosity then led us to look more closely at what was around us.
We identified wildflowers and herbs that occur (or seem to occur) here naturally. In general, they seem to be attracted by (or at least more tolerant of) the damper conditions prevalent in this location. The clue was already in the place name - Wass - old English for a place near water, marsh or swamp.
Inspired by the monastic heritage of Byland Abbey, and the role monastic infirmerers played in local healthcare, we were intrigued by the 'curious cures' of Medieval times. Did any of the herbs we find today have traditional medicinal applications?
Looking to the past, could we learn for the future? Click on the next flower photos.
Scroll down for:
Nature-Inspired Mindfulness
3 Flowers to go WILD about
Grasses to Grow under your Feet
Create your own Wild Patch
Let's Get Quizzical!
Sheep Farming: Past and Present
Results from our initial experiments:
Results from our initial experiments:
We SAW - a myriad of vibrant colours and endless intrigue
We HEARD - nature settling in
We INHALED - delicious herbal scents and healthy phytoncides
We TASTED - a soothing tea from steeped herbal flowers
We FELT - happier, a sense of restfulness, inspired
We LEARNT - doing this on a much larger scale would be good for the planet, place and wellbeing.
Recipe for Thriving Orchards at Byland
Recipe for Thriving Orchards at Byland
Take winding avenues amidst awesome traditional orchards ...
Take winding avenues amidst awesome traditional orchards ...
Study its characteristics (soil type etc.)
Research which plants (and why and how) are best suited to meeting our objectives and adapted to local conditions
Factor in the monastic heritage of Byland and herbal traditions of medieval monks
Design a mosaic of fractals, soft fascination and mystery
Meticulously prepare the ground
Add a 100 or so species of wild flowers, grasses and herbs
Protect the area during vulnerable stages of growth and to deter herbivores
Wait for nature to do its magic!
Feast on the sensory experience before you.
Pause for some Nature-Inspired Mindfulness
Pause for some Nature-Inspired Mindfulness
Be present in the moment. Focus your attention on your breathing for a while. Then gently allow your attention to wander amidst the trees and flowers:
What can you see? Look out for colours, shapes, patterns and textures. Embrace them with a sense of joy and gratitude.
What can you hear? Listen for sounds closest to you and in the distance. Focus on bird song or insects buzzing. Unwelcome sounds - let the thoughts drift by.
Feel grounded. Touch the grass beneath your feet. Describe to yourself how it feels.
Feel inspired to learn something new today:
3 Flowers to go WILD about
3 Flowers to go WILD about
Click on the arrow at the bottom of each image to find out more:
Wood Betony ('Betony')
Wood Betony ('Betony')
(Betonica Officinalis; Stachys Officinalis)
Picture ... graceful and fragrant pink-purple blooms gently swaying in the breeze buzzing with with busy pollinating bees.
Betony was considered a medieval 'wonder herb', a 'cure all'. It was used in particular to treat maladies of the head and 'frayed nerves'. It was also believed to protect the soul from evil spirits and to be effective against sorcery and nightmares.
Today, at a local level it is a 'forgotten flower', amongst species in the National Park that have been in sharp decline for many decades, so please allow betony to establish here.
Meadowsweet
Meadowsweet
(Filipendula Ulmaria)
Meadowsweet thrives in damp locations, such as stream-bank sides.
In medieval times it was a 'go-to' remedy for fevers and headaches and to treat 'the fluxes' (diarrhoea).
Its anti-inflammatory properties derive from its constituent salicylates. In particular, it contains the precursor, salicin, for the compound that we know today as 'aspirin', acetylsalicylic acid. The brand name 'Aspirin' was derived from the plant's former botanical name (Spiraea Ulmaria), 'spirin' from Spiraea and 'a' for 'acetyl'. Willow bark is another source of salicin.
It was used as a flavouring agent in the brewing of mead. Its Old English name was 'meadesweet'. It was also used in a beer made with two other herbs, dandelion and agrimony.
It's sweet, almond-like scent led to it being used in bridal bouquets and as a strewing herb to mask unpleasant odours. 16th century herbalist John Gerard noted that it 'maketh the hart merrie'.
Wild Carrot
Wild Carrot
(Daucus Carota)
A native species often found in rough grassland, affectionately known as 'Queen Anne's Lace' on account of its delicate, intricate flower-heads.
Part of the same family as the commercially grown cultivar (the root vegetable) we are encouraged to eat to 'help us see in the dark' (the Vitamin A they contain does at least contribute to healthy eyes!).
Medieval 'carrots' were not, however, orange; they were typically white or purple. Depending on their intended use, carrots (including wild carrots) were often found in monastic vegetable gardens (hortus) or medicinal herb gardens (herbularius).
Its main medicinal use was in reproductive health; it was also used to soothe the stomach and expel gas!
Caution: not to be confused with the similar-looking but deadly 'Poison Hemlock'. Wild carrot can be a minor skin irritant.
Let These Grasses Grow Under Your Feet!
Let These Grasses Grow Under Your Feet!
Why? In addition to the plant matter you see, beneath the surface grasses develop deep, spreading and/or fibrous root systems that help to accommodate lots of carbon - see 'Science Behind the Scenery'. Grasses are intricate and pretty, and, if you look closely, more intriguing than you might expect!
Explore: Yorkshire fog, cock's foot, meadow fescues and foxtails, sweet vernal and crested dog's tail.
Create your own Wild Patch
Create your own Wild Patch
North York Moors National Park Authority's 'Make your own Mini-Meadow' blog and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Wildlife Gardening Hub provide plenty of guidance on how you can 'go wild' in your garden.
If you are looking for ideas for wildlife-friendly flowers you can grow in window-boxes, on balconies or in pots, head to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Royal Horticultural Society websites.
Tips from the Herboretum:
Trial a small area: a 1 x 1 m square in the garden would be ideal. Check out your soil, drainage and light characteristics and select your seed accordingly. A mixture of wildflowers and complementary meadow grasses helps to discourage competitive weeds. Prepare a weed-free surface to sow onto. Firm the ground then sow your chosen seed mixture onto the surface. Make sure you sow at the correct time of year for the seed concerned. Tread/press the seed onto the surface to provide good seed-soil contact. Do not exclude light. Keep watered during warmer/ dry periods. Watch and enjoy!
Let's Get Quizzical!
Let's Get Quizzical!
Have a go - no names or scores collected! Refresh your browser for another go.
Accessibility: you can also find all the questions and a bit more feedback here.
For a deeper understanding check out The Science Behind the Scenery.
We blend our Medieval monastic sheep farming heritage with contemporary 'agroecological' thinking
We blend our Medieval monastic sheep farming heritage with contemporary 'agroecological' thinking
The Cistercians at Byland and neighbouring monasteries established a series of agricultural centres - 'granges' - which included sheep stations. Wool exports were a major source of revenue, with Italian and Flemish merchants travelling to nearby Thorpe Grange to view and bid for fleeces. Indeed, under the Cistercians, wool reportedly became the most lucrative cash-crop in Britain (Foot et al). By-products included clothing, blankets, parchment, butter and cheese, whilst lamb and mutton were considered nutritious food in Medieval times. Woodland formed part of the wider pastoral system for monastery livestock.
A copy of Palladius' 4th/5th century farming manual, 'Opus Agriculturae', was held at Byland, possibly copied from a manuscript borrowed from Durham. This text includes a calendar for sheep farming and treats sheep as not only providers of wool, but essential contributors to the farming ecosystem, with milk, cheese and manure as other important by-products.
The Medieval monastic sheep farming heritage of this area continues today but with an agroecological approach. We integrate sheep grazing with growing fruit-bearing deciduous trees and wide hedgerows, a practice known as 'silvopasture'. This approach supports animal welfare: the trees provide shade, shelter and a source of nutrition and sequester more carbon than an open pasture system alone, helping to offset methane emissions. The sheep are locally reared and pure-bred. From a conservation perspective, we use electric fencing to regulate their access to areas re-seeded with diverse mixes of wildflowers, herbs and grasses, alongside grazing improved grassland pasture. We also use their 'golden hooves' to help tread in wild seed helping to maintain a diverse seedbed for the future.
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