Applications for the 2022 Countryside Stewardship scheme opened on 9th February. There are options for those who’ve never been, or are no longer, in a scheme as well as new “Offers” and Capital grants too. There are several important changes in this round including broadening the options available and making these easier to apply for. There are many grassland options… Read more →
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Video on Rapid Plant Monitoring just released
Stuart Hedley plant trainer and Herefordshire vice county plant recorder has made a short video with all you need to know about the Herefordshire Meadows rapid plant monitoring method You can watch on Youtube and see the Survey and Monitoring pages of the website for further information on ID guides, books and how to separate many of the “problem pairs”… Read more →
Boost for Biodiversity grant. New funding from Severn Trent includes meadow restoration
Severn Trent Water are working with the Wye & Usk Foundation to fund advice and grant schemes in the Wye on annual basis. The main STEPS scheme has been running for several years and is restricted to the Drinking Water Safe Guarding Zone which follows the main rivers. This has been popular with farmers along the main stem of the… Read more →
Diverse swards ARE part of the solution to the climate emergency
Herefordshire Meadows 4th annual Forum was held on 29th February 2020. Over 90 farmers and meadow owners gathered to hear a varied programme of speakers. One farmer commented that the morning provided us with ” how to make a meadow and why we should all be doing it ” all in one session. One of our smallholder members wrote ”… Read more →
Big Farmland Bird Count 7 – 16 Feb 2020
We are encouraging all our members to take part in the BFBC again this year Please remember to mention Herefordshire Meadows Group when you put your data on the BFBC website so that we can collate the results To find out more about taking part in Herefordshire please see Herefordshire Rural Hub website and contact Tony Norman with any queries… Read more →
Small balers in short supply for hay making
Our grassland machinery survey (still available for you to complete) tells us that many of you struggle to find someone with small square or round baler to bale hay in small meadows around the County. Local environmental contractor James Davies is doing a feasibility study to see if he can fill that gap in Herefordshire – but we have to… Read more →
Coronation Meadows in Herefordshire and a Royal Visitor at Ross on Wye
On 5th November Herefordshire Meadows had a display at Ross Market House during the visit of HRH The Prince of Wales to launch the Gilpin 2020 Festival. We were invited by Ross Town Council and the Wye Valley AONB as they have worked together to create an area of floodplain meadow beside… Read more →
Meadow making pilot summary September 2019
We’re in the final couple of weeks of sowing wildflower mixes this summer and are delighted to present a brief summary of work done so far on the 20 farms who joined the 2019 meadow making pilot 857 kgs of Herefordshire seed was harvested from 8 different farms using our brush seed harvesting service. This dried down to about 400… Read more →
Meadow hay for sale in Titley
Jeremy and Nicky Mitchell of Title plan to cut and bale up to 750 small square bales after July 14th – exact date TBC depending on the weather. The meadows are moderately flower rich and the hay is made without a conditioner. It may have some flower seeds remaining for low level enhancement by feeding out in winter as well… Read more →
Rapid Meadow Monitoring guidance available – have a go
Guidance for monitoring meadow plants and bumblebees is now available for all our members and for everyone in the Meadow Making pilot This is a great way for us to demonstrate the great things Herefordshire Meadows members are doing and to share what gets the best results in the field The 3 asks BEFORE the grass is mown – or… Read more →