During the busy and blazing months of June and July, nineteen members of our volunteer ‘Meadow Monitors’ team visited 26 of the 2021 species rich grassland restoration sites in Herefordshire to record plant species and where possible, meet with the landowners.
Stopping at 10 representative sample points across each field, they noted what was growing within a 1x1m2 quadrat to provide a measure of frequency of broad-leaved plants including meadow indicator species. Any additional plants or habitat variations of note were also logged.
The data will help us to evaluate progress towards meadow establishment and identify where additional advice, input or interventions might be useful to increase chances of success. The sites visited represent a wide range of properties where Herefordshire Meadows have assisted restoration, from large farms to small holdings to individual fields. Each scenario presents different challenges and opportunities for meadow establishment. By designating a local volunteer to carry out repeat visits at each site, we aim to create an ongoing and sustainable two-way link between Herefordshire Meadows and the restoration landowners. This will help to facilitate support and feedback as restoration progresses that should ensure positive results in the longer term.
We were incredibly lucky with the weather although some visit days were very hot and the ground so dry that it could be challenging to identify everything! It was great to see our volunteers immersing themselves in the task and enjoying using and sharing their survey skills and local knowledge. We are now collating and recording results; watch this space! Huge thanks to everyone involved in this endeavour, both meadow owners and monitoring volunteers. |
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July Meadow Walks and Talks
What a fantastic month of events July has been! In the sweltering heat, under cobalt skies, amongst the seed pods and billowing grasses, we gathered on three different occasions to see, share, and learn about the importance of our meadows.
We kicked off with the National Meadows Day event at Brockhampton Cottage on 3rd July, generously hosted by Peter Clay and the Clay Estates Garden and Farm teams. We were blown away by the transformation of grasslands from uniform ryegrass swards and sterile post construction sites to multi-species, thriving and dynamic meadows, and were fascinated to learn about Peter's (in his own words) orchid obsession and the subsequent ongoing research into the intricate relationships between orchids and mycorrhizal fungi. During the afternoon the irreplaceability of our oldest meadows, and the vital need to understand, respect, and protect their complex ecologies was discussed. This is a key policy demand of Plantlife, to find out more and lend your support follow the link here. Read more about this fantastic afternoon here.
On 13th July we visited Lower Hardwick Cottage, courtesy of Diana and Keith Palmer, for our Meadows and Mosaic Habitats event. The focus of the afternoon was the importance of stepping stone habitats, which are essential for creating and linking up forage and shelter spaces for wildlife. This event built beautifully on the insights shared during our Meadows, Trees and More Forum, which had introduced many of us to the concept of wood meadows and their incredible value for biodiversity. A full story with additional resources can be found here
Our final event of the 2025 summer season was a fascinating tour of the Doward, its nature reserves and calcareous grasslands with naturalists Ian and Ruth Draycott. The Meadows in Miniature event on 23rd July covered many different subjects, from the influence of the rare carboniferous limestone on plant diversity, the vital importance of deadwood in our woodlands for hoverflies and artists, to the best DIY methods of eliminating bracken. We are so inspired by the wealth of knowledge and interests amongst our members, which never ceases to drive insightful discussions. Thank you!
For a full write-up and useful links, please see here
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Grassland Diversity and Resilience
at Boycefield Farm |
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On 11th July, we assembled at Boycefield Farm for a farm walk focused on the theme of Grassland Diversity and Resilience. With fodder shortages becoming a serious concern during this recent heatwave, this helped stimulate a lively discussion led by our hosts, Lucinda and Jim Lewis.
The walk covered three different grassland systems: permanent pasture, herbal leys and native species-diverse grassland. We discussed practical adaptations to improve drought resistance, boost productivity, and support livestock health and performance.
Carbon sequestration, deep-rooted native grasses, seed mixes for herbal leys, and managing yellow rattle were all discussed, but the theme that took centre stage, woven through every conversation, was soil health. Knowing your soils and understanding how they behave under environmental stress can unlock new ways of improving their condition. Lucinda and Jim adapt their seed mixes, their grazing protocols and their crops to maximise the building of soil organic matter. Fittingly, Boycefield's next generation, Billy Lewis, was awarded Soil Farmer of the Year 2022!
A full write up with more resources, can be found on our website.
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Transforming Floodplains to Diverse Grasslands at Caradoc
On 15th July, courtesy of Dreda Darling, we gathered at Caradoc for a technical session entitled Transforming Floodplains to Diverse Grassland.
The event was designed specifically for farmers participating in the Wyescapes Landscape Recovery project. The Wyescapes project has an ambitious, 20 year plan to restore a nature-rich mosaic of habitats and improve river health along the River Wye and Lugg, as well as future proofing participating farms against climate change and supporting sustainable food production.
Rory Johnson, our Meadows Adviser worked with Caradoc Farm to restore a part of their floodplain grassland in 2024, and so it was a great opportunity to share joint experiences and discuss the restoration process on site, 10 months after reseeding.
We were also joined by Emma Rothero, Project Manager at the Floodplain Meadows Partnership, who provided valuable scientific context throughout the session.
Floodplain grasslands are complex and beautiful habitats. They circulate and filter nutrients, supporting both soil and river health. In Herefordshire, a large proportion of floodplain fields have been converted to arable production over the past 50 years, largely due to their fertility and flat terrain. However, with declining river health and increasingly frequent and extreme flooding, Herefordshire Meadows are actively supporting landowners who wish to revert to species-rich grassland. By restoring these fields to their original ecology, land can once again absorb, store and slowly release water, benefitting both the river and groundwater reserves.
And, as if on cue, after weeks of relentless heat, it finally rained! A full write up, including further resources, can be found on our website here. |
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Species-rich hay available For small scale meadow restoration near Huntington
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| | | | Small quantity of loose scythed dry hay available in August to anyone within 10 miles of Huntington, HR5 3PD.
Suitable for strewing and / or feeding out to livestock in autumn / winter for small scale meadow restoration.
This 0.2 acre wildflower meadow estimated to produce 15 to 20 dumpy bags, unseen by Herefordshire Meadows, is the result of 20 years of conservation, introduction of local seed and some UK provenance plugs.
Please contact Graham Cowden for more details graham.cowden2@gmail.com |
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Get Involved: Feedback wanted from grassland restoration landowners
In 2023, PhD researcher Indie Jones worked with some of our meadow restoration site owners to gather data on pollinator populations and conduct plant community assessments. As part of her ongoing research Indie would now like to speak with ANY landowners who have carried out meadow restoration works to gather feedback on their experiences of the process. Please get in touch directly with Indie if you are able to help Indiana.Jones@liverpool.ac.uk
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Book Now: Second UK Meadows Conference - The Importance of Meadows in Nature Recovery See the poster below for booking details
and you can find the full programme on our website here. |
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