Big, biodiverse and beautiful: can Romania’s centuries-old giant haystacks survive modern farming?

Big, biodiverse and beautiful: can Romania’s centuries-old giant haystacks survive modern farming?

Traditional methods benefit hundreds of species but as new agricultural techniques take over, the distinctive haystacks mark a vanishing way of lifeGolden haystacks shaped like teardrops have been a symbol of rural life in Romania for hundreds of years. The 3-metre-high (10ft) ricks are the culmination of days of hard work by families, from children up to grandparents, in the height of summer.Together they cut waist-high grass, leave it to dry i…