Wildflower Meadow Seeds – Horse Harvested the Circular Way

Harvested Seed Heads

Following the successful shire horse harvest in the Autumn, we’re wanted to share a little about how our wildflower meadow seeds are carefully gathered, cleaned, and prepared – the natural, circular way – ready for sowing in Spring 2026.

These horse-harvested wildflower seeds are produced using low-impact, traditional methods that support biodiversity, soil health, and resilient meadow creation. Our mixes support the establishment of meadow flowers, combining carefully balanced wildflower seed mixes made up of both annual and perennial species.

At Natural Shoots, our approach to wildflower meadow seed harvesting is rooted in respect for land, wildlife, and blends traditional skills with new technologies. Using horsepower reduces soil compaction, protects delicate meadow structures, and allows us to use innovative ground-based harvesting buggies to collect the seeds and enable pollinators and invertebrates to escape injury-free.

Harvest & Storage: Horse-Harvested Wildflower Seeds Dried with Care

Once the meadow had fully set seed, harvesting began with the Shire horses working gently through the sward. The collected material was separated into three large agricultural bags, carefully labelled high cut, medium cut and low cut. Keeping these cuts distinct allows us to monitor moisture levels and seed quality at every stage.

To dry the harvest quickly and safely, seeds and stalks were spread out on large tarpaulins, with each cut stored separately. Speed matters at this stage – removing moisture as soon as possible is the single most important factor in preserving seed quality and preventing decomposition.

Each spread was turned three-five times daily using a large fork, encouraging airflow through the material and ensuring even drying. Early on, we analysed the initial seed drop to assess both volume and quality, giving us a clear picture of the harvest potential.

An added benefit of drying on tarpaulins is that it allows caterpillars, spiders, and other invertebrates to escape naturally from the harvested matter, supporting biodiversity beyond the meadow itself.

Shield Bug (left) & Bee (right)

Cleaning & Preparation: From Wildflower Meadow to Seed Mix

Once fully dry, the harvested material moved into the cleaning phase. Seed heads and stalks were threshed thoroughly to release as much viable seed as possible. This careful process maximises yield while maintaining the integrity of each species.

The threshed mix was then cleaned to remove any remaining large stalks before being passed through a series of sieves with varying aperture sizes. This allows us to separate and select both larger and smaller species as required, creating a balanced and diverse seed mix.

A detailed analysis followed, identifying species important for creating resilient British wildflower meadows, including both short-lived and long-term flowering plants:

• Species originally included in the sown mix

• Native species present on the site that had not been harvested before

• “Blow-ins” – plants that naturally colonised the new meadow, flowered, and successfully set seed

These spontaneous additions are an important part of meadow evolution, reflecting local conditions and adding resilience and richness to the final mix.

A Living Wildflower Seed Mix, Ready to Grow

Our harvest produces versatile wildflower seed mixes, suitable for a wide range of meadow projects – from colourful first-year displays using annual wildflower seeds and annual wildflower seed mixes, to longer-lasting meadows established with seeds for perennial flowers.

A key component of many traditional and restored meadows is yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor). Often described as the engine of a wildflower meadow, yellow rattle helps control vigorous grasses by reducing their dominance, creating space and light for a greater diversity of meadow flowers to establish.

We include yellow rattle seeds in many of our British wildflower seed mix to support stronger long-term meadow development, especially on fertile soils. When conditions are right, yellow rattle seedlings establish in the first or second season, requiring frost to germinate, and return year after year, improving floral balance and species richness without the need for intensive management.

Horse Harvest Wildflower Seeds Launching Spring 2026

This harvest marks an exciting milestone for Natural Shoots. Grown, gathered and prepared using traditional horse-powered methods and modern ecological understanding, these wildflower meadow seeds embody our commitment to working in harmony with nature whilst pioneering the use of heritage methods blended with modern technologies.

We’ll be launching our Horse Harvest Range in Spring 2026, bringing truly circular, site-responsive meadow seeds to gardeners, landowners, and conservation projects alike.

From meadow to mix, every step tells a story – and we can’t wait to see where these horse-harvested wildflower meadow seeds will bloom next.