On Monday 23rd March, we explored the fascinating world of soil health and biology during a training event with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust volunteers at Bartonsham Meadows – a large scale, nature restoration project in the city centre.

We started with a whirlwind introduction to soil parameters- a huge topic to be covered in just a short time! Then, we got hands-on outside, exploring five key indicators of soil health: VESS, earthworm count, rhizosheaths, rooting depth, and the slake test. The Bartonsham Meadows volunteers will be putting this exercise into practice to monitor changes in soil quality as the site restoration progresses.

Next, we turned our attention to the emerging wildflower seedlings on a 2025 over-seeding trial plot. It was thrilling to spot little yellow rattle seedlings popping up across the area, and even more exciting to find ox-eye daisies – a new priority indicator plant for the site.

The final session involved our brand new trinocular microscope, which revealed a thriving, cacophony of life normally hidden from us. Nematodes whizzing through, protozoa slowly absorbing whatever food they come across and bacteria buzzing steadily in the background. Thanks to a grant from the Wye Valley National Landscape, this microscope session was the first of many outings, giving us a glimpse into the microbiology which underpins healthy soil.