Cutting edge technology: some jobs take a bit longer, but the end product is much improved. Heavy horses are cutting hay in Morden Hall Park this week

It’s one of the sights of the summer, offering a view of a bygone age.

The National Trust at Morden Hall Park, just a short tram ride from Croydon town centre, have called in the working horses to make hay while the sun shines.

The step back into history is proving to be a big move for future ecology of wildflower meadows and other nature reserves, with the National Trust having pioneered the technique of using working horses – often shire horses or Clydesdales – to cut the grass and help regenerate meadows at Hampton Court and Ham House.

Park life: the working horses in Morden Hall Park show what can be done in a more environmentally friendly manner

One of the advantages of using shire horses is that the meadow takes on a more authentic appearance, as the grass is cut more roughly. The traditional method also helps germinate wild flower seeds, while the lighter tread of the horses is easier on the soil.

Despite weighing up to a tonne, the heavy horses are still lighter than tractors and they compact the soil less as they plod the fields, which helps plants and wildlife to flourish.

And today, the NT at Morden Hall Park (Phipps Bridge is the best tram stop) announced that it has working horses on site this week for meadow cutting.

“The horses will be trotting about South Park over the next few days, so come and see them in action,” they said.

“The horses are a positive alternative to using heavy modern machinery, providing low levels of noise disturbance, less soil compaction and a smaller impact on the flora and fauna of Morden Hall Park.”

The former snuff mills in the park, which harnessed the water power of the River Wandle in the 18th and into the 19th Centuries, are well worth a visit at any time.

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