FARMERS in the Yorkshire Dales could be sitting on a new cash crop.

A project announced this week aims to buy seed from flower-rich hay meadows and use it restore areas where wildflowers have been depleted.

The Hay Time project is a three-year scheme to restore and enhance more than 400 hectares of the nationally important hay meadows of the Yorkshire Dales.

The meadows in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are among the most important habitats in the North of England - and some of the last in the UK.

Their stunning array of colourful flowers and grasses not only create a wonderful sight, but also provide important feeding and nesting areas for birds and bats.

The project, set up by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) in partnership with the national park, wants to work with farmers and increase public awareness, enjoyment and understanding of the hay meadows, found in such areas as Swaledale.

Farmers who take part will be eligible for funding from agri-environment schemes.

Pippa Rayner, newly-appointed Hay Time project officer, is about to take up her post based at YDMT's office in Clapham.

Over the next three-and-a-half years, she will work closely with farmers to establish a system for collecting and distributing high- quality local hay meadow seed.

She also wants to set up contracts with agricultural contractors to operate the specialised machinery for hay meadow seed harvesting and establish demonstration sites where hay meadow restoration techniques can be showcased.

She and project manager Don Gamble are keen to make contact with farmers interested in joining the project.

YDMT has also helped set up a twin project in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The projects are funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the North Pennines AONB Partnership, The Tubney Charitable Trust, Defra's Rural Development Scheme, English Nature, and the Countryside Agency.

Any interested farmers are asked to contact Mr Gamble on (01524) 251002.