Do you know what hay meadows are? In some parts of the Tourdera and Arbúcies stream route, you pass through some of these very rich ecosystems that, especially in spring and early summer, are an explosion of biodiversity. We have prepared this article for you to get to know them better and thus help in their preservation.
Hay meadows are semi-natural herbaceous plant communities that depend to a great extent on human management. Traditionally, these meadows have been used to obtain fodder to feed livestock through mowing or temporary grazing. Until recently, they formed the fundamental basis of extensive mountain livestock farms, which are clearly in regression today. They are, therefore, threatened by the abandonment of their use.
On the Tourdera route, we can find them in several places, for example in Arbúcies, in the Morer area or in the Graners area. Specifically, the Morer meadows, located on the stretch between the town of Arbúcies and Montsoriu Castle, have very interesting interpretation that will allow you to learn about some of the species, both plant and animal, that live there.
Hay meadows are habitats of great relevance due to their biodiversity. They also have great floristic richness where grasses dominate, followed by legumes. These meadows change their appearance a lot depending on the time of year. While in late spring they are in full bloom with tall and lush grass, in winter the grass is low and cut.
In addition to floristic richness, these meadows constitute an important source of resources for numerous insects. They also provide breeding and feeding grounds for birds typical of open spaces, including those that move between hay meadows and the shrub cover that often delimits them.
So, if you feel like visiting a hay meadow, we encourage you to do the stretch between Arbúcies and Montsoriu Castle, where you will pass through the Morer meadows and find an interpretive panel.
