Hay and history on the Northern Line
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is a rural idyll within the sprawling metropolis. Just a short walk from the Tube station at Morden Park Hall time stands still.
Behind the high walls of the park the haymaking has started. Traditional methods are maintained on meadowland which has existed for centuries - untouched by insecticide or fertiliser. This is part of the 3 per cent of 'semi-unimproved' pasture left in the British Isles.
The head warden, Paul Rutter, (above) works the land with two of his staff and as many volunteers as he can muster. It takes two weeks or more to harvest 20 acres of the 125 acres of traditional meadowland.
'We use scythes, but when there are only three of us we cheat a bit and use a harvesting tractor. But we still ensure that we harvest a little at a time, giving the wildlife time to relocate to longer grass which we leave for their benefit.
The sight of a tractor would have made the park's former owner, Gilliat Hatfield, shudder. Hatfield was a reclusive millionaire who despised modern technology.
He inherited his millions and 1,200 acres of Morden from his father, also named Gilliat. But the family's 'little empire' in Morden had been acquired a generation earlier.
Mr Rutter, as well as being a haymaking expert, is also unofficial keeper of the family's history.
'Alexander Hatfield married a wealthy woman whose family were in snuff. The newly weds bought Morden Park Hall and built two snuff mills, powered by the River Wandle. They became so rich that they bought a huge chunk of Morden.'
But by the time Gilliat
junior inherited the estate his land was being compulsorily purchased to meet the demands of London's spiralling population.
'He saw his land disappearing and the 20th century creeping closer and closer and he hated it,' said Mr Rutter.
As the developers drew nearer to of the park, the landscaped rose gardens and wild meadows, Hatfield decided to donate his home to the
National Trust. In 1945, when he died aged 75, the trust took over.
'It was appropriate really. He loved the park, but he didn't like living in the big hall so he moved into a cottage. We have been able to maintain it.
'And sometimes, especially when you are making the hay, you cannot help wondering if he's by your side, watching that you're keeping it the way he would have wanted.'
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments