My family and I run a 260 acre farm, now all grass. It used to be a mixed farm with permanent pasture and  grass leys for sheep and cattle, and arable crops. Two small fields were also converted from arable to hay meadows more than 20 years ago under the original Countryside Stewardship Scheme. This was done by sowing native grasses in the spring, and then, later in the summer, strewing green hay from an established meadow, containing many species. The meadows have been cut and grazed over the years and now qualify for the species rich grassland higher payments. Herefordshire Meadows have been involved recently, helping to improve the meadows with strip cultivation and the supply of suitable locally harvested seed.

We have become much more aware of soil quality in recent years, again with help from Herefordshire Meadows and their contacts. It became apparent that the arable soils were becoming degraded, lacking both soil biology, notably worms, and structure, causing erosion. Especially when compared to our permanent pastures. 

This coincided with the grants and subsidies introduced for fencing and herbal leys so we decided to concentrate on the livestock, growing all grass. We now have all the fields fenced, including splitting some with new hedges, allowing us to rotationally graze and cut as necessary. Lamb performance has been very good while grazing the multiple species, and we have been lucky that beef and sheep returns have been very healthy lately, whilst also benefitting from utilising legumes instead of expensive fertiliser.

Involvement with Herefordshire Meadows has led to becoming a Trustee, and now to being Chair. It’s been a steep learning curve from running a farm partnership to the mysteries of an organisation like a charity, with its structure and processes, although I have had some experience both from lecturing at the local agricultural college for some years and involvement with the NFU. Fortunately, the Herefordshire Meadows staff and trustees are extremely knowledgeable and experienced, helping to keep me on the straight and narrow! For which I’m very grateful.

The charity has grown from small beginnings to its present position as an important source of advice and practical help for meadow creation and restoration within Herefordshire and beyond, even more relevant now with the present awareness of issues such as biodiversity, nutrient control and the general wellbeing and enjoyment of the public. I would hope to see this position consolidated in the coming year, with opportunities for new projects, recruiting extra staff, and raising our profile amongst both rural and urban communities.

Global degradation of nature is a very concerning problem, but we can create and preserve incredibly rich habitats with healthy meadows and soils here at home. Thanks to all those who make the effort!

Julian Partridge, Herefordshire Meadows Chair of Trustees

In April 2024 you helped us to raise £14,000 during our For the Love of Meadows in Herefordshire campaign, hosted by Big Give’s Green Match Fund.  Thanks to your generosity, and to Big Give for match-funding your donations, we have been able to connect with around 300 people at Herefordshire Medows events and training sessions over the last year (and many more people at partner events) – all aimed at inspiring better understanding, management and preservation of meadows in Herefordshire.   

This has included five Meadow Walks at diverse farms and restorations sites, covering subjects such as rotational grazing and management for meadow invertebrates, 4 training days in plant and fungi ID, survey methods and meadow management, an online Webinar about ELM Grassland options, and a variety of community group and school talks.  Still to come using the campaign funds is our Annual Forum on Saturday 22^nd February, where we will be discussing Meadows, trees and more – looking at ways in which landowners can build biodiversity and resilience on their farms.

Big Give’s unique model allows charity supporters to double the difference they make with their donations, by match funding donations the campaigns they host.  Each year they run the Green Match Fund the UK’s biggest movement in collective environmental philanthropy, which last year raised over £6.3m for 247 charities.  

Thank you all once again for your donations to our campaign, and for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm at our events.

Wyescapes is led by Herefordshire Rural Hub in partnership with delivery partners Herefordshire Meadows, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, and The Wye and Usk Foundation.

To register your views, offer your ideas and insights, or to raise any concerns you might have, please complete the anonymous online survey via
https://herefordshireruralhub.co.uk/wyescapes-survey/

10:15 – 10:45 – 2024 overview & case study member contributions

10:45- 11:15 – Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:15 – Guest Speaker Dan Carne 

12:15 – 12:45 – Update on current funding schemes for mosaic systems

12:45 – 14:00 – Breakout session and lunch

14:00 – END