"The New Grass"
This a large area of newly created grassland.
This area of grassland was created as part of the "Melton Flood Alleviation Scheme" and is intentionally flooded when river levels become too high to protect Melton Mowbray.
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It was previously productive arable land but we entered it into a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme when it became apparent it was no longer possible to grow crops which involved planting 100 acres of permanent grassland.
The grassland is a designated "low input", wet grassland meaning it receives no fertilisers or pesticides. We can also only graze a low number of cattle on it during the summer months which allows the grass to go to seed providing feed for small mammals and birds.
When the grassland floods in can rise up to 12ft deep in places! This creates its own problems with damaged fences and gates but also attracts a range of wetland birds over the winter months.