On this training course you will learn how to distinguish between the most common bumblebee species, practice catching and identifying bumblebees in the field and learn how to set up a BeeWalk. Please arrive at 09.30 for a 10.00am start. Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival. Please bring your own water bottles, snacks etc. You will need:- A What’s that Bumblebee Guide The most useful… Read more →
Events
Wood Pasture Mosaics at Moccas Village Hall and Moccas Hill Wood
Come and join us for the fourth event in our Meadows, Mosaics and Mitigating Climate Change series Wood Pasture Mosaics – an asset for regenerative farming systems. At Moccas Village Hall and Moccas Hill Wood courtesy of Natural England and James and John Hughes of Pentre Farm, Dorstone. Saturday 14th May 10.00 for 10.30 am Moccas Village Hall, Moccas, HR2… Read more →
Shelterbelts and ‘Living Barn’ Wood Pasture Mosaics
This event will be of interest to anyone outwintering livestock who would like to discuss the theory and practicalities of trees and shelterbelts on farms and how these can support and enhance grasslands and grazing systems. We are delighted to be joined by Sam Hollick (Bangor University) who will discuss some of the findings from his PhD work entitled ‘Optimising… Read more →
Wood Meadows
First in our series Meadows, Mosaics and Mitigating Climate Change Please join us to find out about this mosaic habitat and it’s potential benefits for livestock systems in Herefordshire George Peterken, renowned woodland ecologist, nature conservation advisor and author of the book Meadows (2013), will give a Zoom presentation about Wood Meadows. He will cover questions including ; what are wood-meadows,… Read more →
Winter Management of Recently Restored Meadows – Taking the Seedling’s View
A chance to discuss winter meadow management with or without grazing livestock to increase the chances of your restoration being successful James has been restoring meadows using a range of techniques over recent years and a great place for discussion. There may be seedlings and wildflower leaves to see to help you brush up your plant ID without flowers. Cake provided… Read more →
Introduction to BEEWALK survey for meadow makers
Sue Holland and Caroline Hanks of Herefordshire Meadows will explain the simplified BEEWALK survey method and what you need to do to be ready to survey your Meadow Makers site this summer. Also suitable as a refresher for members who are in year 2 or 3 of any meadow restoration project. We will cover how to choose the route, set… Read more →
Introduction to Plant Identification – rapid monitoring method
Stuart Hedley will lead a zoom session on meadow plant identification aimed at beginners and improvers. We will focus on an introduction to our rapid monitoring method because it gives us a quick way to assess changes in plants due to meadow management and restoration. This is a must for those in the 2021 Meadow Makers project and anyone else… Read more →
What’s the buzz about – are all pollinator habitats equal?
Dr Paul Cross is a senior lecturer at the School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University whose research interests include Unmanned Aerial Vehicle tracking systems for pollinators and the characteristic size and shape of bees. He is also a beekeeper, the proud custodian of a wildflower meadow on Ynys Mon and a butterfly fanatic. In this talk, Dr Cross will introduce… Read more →
Principles of Creating Flower Rich Meadows
Caroline Hanks and Sue Holland will share their experience and answer questions on the principles of meadow creation and restoration. Topics covered will include; what to think about when planning a meadow restoration, plus examples of some of the restoration methods Herefordshire Meadows’ members have used in recent years. This is for anyone who’s new to meadow creation and restoration,… Read more →
A Smallholders Experience of Machinery for Flower Rich Meadows
Tim Daniels will give us a presentation about his 5.5 acre flower rich smallholding near Longtown on the edge of the Black Mountains. Tim supports local meadow restoration projects as a seed donor and with practical management and restoration too. This talk is for any smallholder who’s wondering about the cost-benefits of purchasing their own machinery as opposed to setting… Read more →