The Meadow Makers' Network Forum

Jane, cutting with horses would be a great option for some people - can you let us know the type of ground the horses can cope with - flat presumably best? Roughly what size area can they cover in a day? Is there an optimum time of year you prefer to cut with them? Would August be too late as grasse...

Hi Jane Long grass generally creates a barrier between sun and moist soil so protects to an extent from drought. Whilst many of the grazed grasslands around South Devon were brown last year, our uncut meadows were still pretty green by comparison, even in August. My meadows were cut very late, into ...

I have never seen a White Admiral on Dartmoor, where I live, though according to the handy Butterflies of Dartmoor ID Guide, they are present! The habitat on my own land is suitable; partly wooded, with plenty of native honeysuckle. Does anyone who if there are hotspots in Devon to see them? Butterf...

You're in luck, there is a contractor in the South Hams who specialises in helping meadow owners with smaller fields. I've taken this off the Moor Meadows website list of contractors: Teignbridge and South Hams – mini bales Specialising in cutting and baling smaller meadows. Adrian has a chain harro...

Hi Debra, if you're trying to establish plenty of Yellow Rattle to control vigorous grasses, grazing into late March could severely affect Yellow Rattle populations, especially if sheep numbers are high. Yellow Rattle will start germinating, like all seeds, when the soil starts to warm up in early s...

The Moor Meadows Youtube channel has had a spring clean. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjHa28jhYdl336FF5fPJ-gw/videos We’ve reorganised the videos to make it even easier for you to view many of the great talks from a range of inspirational speakers - Charlie Burrell from Knepp on rewilding, Prof...

How to make and maintain mini-meadows 6th April - free online talk 7.30pm A practical talk on how to create and look after garden meadows, plus how to attract more wildlife to your garden. With Adrian Thomas, author of the best selling Gardening for Wildlife. Register for the link here: https://law...

Moor Meadows is organising two inspirational talks this spring with South Devon AONB, for the Life on the Edge Project. We are aiming to further grow the meadows network across South Devon (and fill that void on the meadows Map!). The first talk, Wild Meadows, is at Holbeton, 7.30pm on 9th March. Pl...

Hi all, Moor Meadows is organising two inspirational talks this spring with South Devon AONB, for the Life on the Edge Project. We are aiming to further grow the meadows network across South Devon (and fill that void on the meadows Map!). The first talk, Wild Meadows, is at Holbeton, 7.30pm on 9th M...

Silent Earth - Spring Talk at Dulverton Hall, with renowned bee expert and best-selling author, Professor Dave Goulson. 13th April at Dulverton Town Hall at 6.30pm Organised by the Exmoor Society. The talk is free. Places are limited - book your seat now: https://www.exmoorsociety.com/events/2023-0...