June means surveying season is truly upon us. The Herefordshire Meadows Team will be out and about surveying species rich grasslands of particularly high natural value across the county as part of the Herefordshire Wildlife Trusts ‘Wilder Herefordshire’ Project. Now is also a good time to start doing Bumblebee surveys, to this end we will be running a Bumblebee ID training day on Tuesday 14th June (more details below). You can find out here how to set up your own Beewalk and register the data. This month, we will also be hosting a film crew from WWF-UK for a week. The aim is to capture footage that will help educate people about all the incredible benefits of species rich grasslands.
Looking ahead, National Meadows Day on Saturday 2nd July is fast approaching. Put the date in your diaries and look out for further information on the events we have planned.
Upcoming events:
Tuesday 14th June 9.30 for 10.00am – 1.00pm – Bumblebee ID Training led by Dr Richard Comont at Adhisthana, Coddington, HR8 1JL
On Tuesday 14th June we will be running a Bumblebee ID day at Adhisthana Court in Coddington led by Dr Richard Comont of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and supported by WWF-UK who will be bringing a film crew along to capture some of the action. Full details of what you need to bring and how to book can be found on our website. Bookings will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Please let us know when you book where you will be carrying out your bumblebee monitoring and/ or if you would be happy to help other landowners in your area to also set up BeeWalks.
Saturday 2nd July 1.45 for 2 – 5pm – National Meadows Day at Olchon Court Farm, Llanveynoe HR2 0NL. The 5th in our series Meadows, Mosaics and Mitigating Climate Change.
This year we will be hosting our National Meadows Day event at Olchon Court Farm courtesy of Anthony Furness and Miriam Griffiths. Full details of the event including how to book a place can be found on our website.
Monday 4th July 2 – 5pm – What’s that grass and what are my livestock eating ? Grass ID Training led by Stuart Hedley (Herefordshire County Botanical Recorder) at Parsonage Farm, Wellington, HR4 8AJ
We are running a beginners Grass ID training session Stuart Hedley will share his memorable top tips on how to get to grips with grasses at at Parsonage Farm courtesy of Lyn and Richard Langford. Full details of how to book can be found on our website.
22nd – 23rd June – 2022 Groundswell Show and Conference at Lannock Manor Farm, Hitchin SG4 7EE
Entering its sixth year, The Groundswell event provides a platform for dialogue among farmers and anyone interested in food production or the environment to discuss practical solutions to producing nutritious food whilst increasing soil organic matter and biodiversity. More details including how to book tickets can be found here.
Catch up:
Herefordshire Meadows core member Billy Lewis shortlisted for Soil Farmer of the Year Competition
Congratulations to Billy Lewis who farms at Boycefield Farm in North West Herefordshire and has been shortlisted for the Farm Carbon Toolkit Soil Farmer of the Year Competition. The competition aims to find farmers and growers who are engaged with, and passionate about, managing their soils in a way which supports productive agriculture, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and builds soil health, organic matter and carbon. The winners of the 2022 competition will be announced at Groundswell Conference in late June.
Local Nature Recovery in 2022
DEFRA released a new statement on the Local Nature Recovery scheme on their Future Farming blog on 27th May. The Local Nature Recover scheme aims to support locally-targeted actions to make space for nature in the farmed landscape and wider countryside, alongside food production. You can read the full update here.
Get Involved:
Floodplain Meadows Project
We are working in partnership with the Wye & Usk Foundation, supported by the Wye Valley AONB to do opportunity mapping of potential floodplain meadow restoration in the River Wye flood plain. If you own land within the River Wye floodplain between Mordiford and Goodrich and would like to be provided with a free Natural Capital map of your landholding and support to explore and apply for grant funds to carry out floodplain meadow and other habitat restoration work contact either Caroline Hanks (caroline.hanks@farming4wildlife.co.uk) or Rory Johnson (rory_johnson9691@hotmail.co.uk) for more information.
Floodplain Meadows Partnership – Farmer Survey
Are you a farmer who is interested in floodplain meadows or farms in the floodplain more generally? The Floodplain Meadows Partnership is seeking the views of farmers to inform their new website and make it as relevant and useful as they can. You can take the part in the survey here.
2022 Big Meadow Search
The Big Meadow Search is a UK wide project developed by Carmarthenshire Meadows Group, to raise awareness and interest in grasslands and record plant species. The 2022 search period runs from 1st June to 31st August. You can find more information on the initiative and details of how to get involved here.
Hereford Cemetery Wildflower Project looking for scythers.
Herefordshire Council are engaged in a project to try and increase plant species diversity in the grassland areas of Hereford Cemetery to create mini meadows that will, among many other things, provide greater opportunities for people’s connection with nature. The Council Bereavement Services are looking for volunteers to help support staff with the harvesting of the meadows by hand. More information about the project and how to sign up for a free scything coursecan be found here.
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Herefordshire Meadows Team