All of this year’s meadow seed harvest had been dried, cleaned, weighed and distributed by the end of August, and at the start of September we began the exciting next stage of our restoration projects: to prepare the sites and begin spreading seed. We also hosted our first FORUM since 2020 and our first AGM since becoming a registered charity. See updates on all this and more below.
- Upcoming events:
Sunday 22nd October 9am – 12:00 noon: Breakfast on the Farm at Townsend Farm, Brampton Abbotts
One of three ‘Autumn Feast’ events organised by the Herefordshire Food Alliance. We will have a stand and be promoting the role of species rich grasslands in sustainable food production. There will also be a farm walk, games and activities and, of course, a delicious locally sourced breakfast. For more information and to book tickets https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/breakfast-lunch-and-dinner-feast-this-autumn
Monday 23rd October 10:30am – 12:30pm Waxcap Walk at Stockings Meadow Reserve, Green Lane, Bromyard, Herefordshire HR7 4RY led by Jo Weightman, Herefordshire Fungus Survey Group, courtesy of David Hutton, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
Join us for an autumnal ID day at Stockings Meadow Nature Reserve led by Jo Weightman, the Herefordshire Fungus Recorder. This is a great chance to:
- Identify some of the more distinctive waxcap fungi (Download the Plantlife Waxcap guide to your phone or device and bring small UNlidded (plastic) container(s) with you
- Assess the importance of your grassland by the use of a simple scorecard
- Discuss grassland management in relation to fungi as indicators of soil health.
Bookings essential though Herefordshire Rural Hub to include car sharing please as parking is very limited.
Email: bookings@herefordshireruralhub.co.uk
Tuesday 14th November – Herefordshire Rural Business Advice Day 2023 at Hereford Racecourse, Roman Road, Hereford HR4 9QU, drop in any time between 12pm – 6pm. We will be there with the Herefordshire Meadows stand.
A free event organised by Herefordshire Rural Hub with presentations and 1to1 advice: “Come along and talk to representatives from the Farm Herefordshire partners and other businesses and organisations supporting farming and rural business in the county”.
Click here for more info or email admin@herefordshireruralhub.co.uk
- Catch Up:
2023 Forum and inaugural Herefordshire Meadows AGM
OUR 5TH FORUM was a great success with a hall full of enthusiasm for diverse swards of all kinds and their role in agroecological transition. After the inaugural AGM chaired by James Hawkins, Nikki Yoxall from PFL gave the keynote talk and challenged us with research findings and new ideas to consider.
Ben Andrews and Alison Pritchard presented about their restorations in 2022 and 2021, Carys talked about donor sites and seed harvesting and Rory and Caroline gave a glimpse of future projects and opportunities coming over the horizon.
For more detailed write up please see the NEWS post on our website
2023 Restoration works begin!
This year’s autumn restoration works have begun, with ground being prepared at our 24 restoration sites so that seed can be spread. This process, in many cases, begins with a hay cut followed by aftermath grazing to create a very short sward, and mechanical disturbance of the ground to create bare earth for seed to be broadcast onto and rolled in.
One of the donor sites this year was Joan’s Hill Farm, Herefordshire’s County Coronation Meadow and a Plantlife nature reserve. The seed harvested from Joan’s Hill was divided between 4 receptor sites, one of which was Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s (HWT) recently purchased Ail Meadow, near Woolhope.
On September 12th Herefordshire Meadows and a large group of HWT volunteers and staff, joined by film crew and even the site grazier, spent the day at Ail Meadow spreading Joan’s Hill seed. Attendees got to hear about Joan’s Hill Farm from Plantlife site manager Jonathan Stone, and also got to meet the herd of handsome Longhorn cattle, that will soon return to Ail Meadow to carry out the all-important winter grazing – needed to maintain space in the sward for wildflower seedlings come spring. The restoration works at this site are being funded by AirWick Botanica and delivered in collaboration with WWF-UK and the Wye & Usk Foundation.
Meadow Making at Ashperton Primary Academy
We have been working with several primary schools this year. One of which is Ashperton Primary Academy, where a wildflower meadow is being created behind the school using green hay from a local species rich meadow and Local Wildlife Site (LWS).
Herefordshire Meadows Advisor Rory Johnson spent a day at the school delivering an assembly on the many benefits of species-rich grasslands, before then taking the Year 5 pupils out onto the meadow to spread some ox-eye daisy seed to supplement the green hay.
The meadow will be used as a learning resource and help to inform and inspire the next generation about this important habitat.
- Other opportunities
Advice & Guidance for Farmers and Land Managers in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
Herefordshire Meadows is excited to be involved in a new Wye Valley AONB project to provide support to farmers and land managers wishing to carry out environmental projects in the English side of the AONB.
Herefordshire Meadows’ contribution to this project will be to carry out assessments of grassland heath including looking at species diversity and soil health indices. Landowners will then be offered conservation and restoration guidance and signposting to grant support.
If you farm or own land in this area and are interested in finding out more contact one of the Herefordshire Meadows advisors:
Rory Johnson – rory@herefordshiremeadows.org.uk
Caroline Hanks – caroline.hanks@farming4wildlife.co.uk
Carys Solman – carys@herefordshiremeadows.org.uk
Pasture and Profit in Protected Landscapes
Pasture for Life have recently been awarded funding by the Shropshire Hills, Wye Valley and Malvern Hills AONBs to run a free, innovative mentoring and events programme until 2025 for farmers interested in nature friendly or regenerative farming practices. The offer includes:
- A comprehensive series of on-farm events & webinars across all three regions covering a wide range of topics.
- A unique opportunity for 26 farms within the programme to be allocated a trained, experienced farmer mentor to assist with implementing innovative livestock management systems.
- Free Pasture for Life membership (worth £120)
You can read more details in this flyer Pasture and Profit in AONBs flyer Sept 2023
If you are interested in being part of this exciting project, or to find out more, contact Ruth Pullan severnwye@pastureforlife.org.
Become a Member of Herefordshire Meadows CIO:
This is in addition to being on our general mailing list for newsletters.
Please read this NEWS post and sign up today to become a full member of Herefordshire Meadows CIO
Donate:
We are now fully registered for donations through the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). If you would like to make a donation to support the preservation, restoration and creation of species rich grasslands across Herefordshire you can do this by following this link. https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/23639#!/DonationDetails
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Herefordshire Meadows Team