The Meadow Makers' Network Forum

If you like wild orchids you will love Beetor Farm! We visited today as part of the Open Meadows calendar and were blown away by the wonderful displays of Greater butterfly orchids (in their hundreds), Southern marsh and Heath spotted and I may have seen a Pyramidal too, although it may also have be...

We had a fabulous visit to Langaford Farm today and thanks go to Tony Bayliss and Peter Beale for a most informative day. Thanks also to Alma for organising this event and to all those who attended and made it such an enjoyable way to pass the day! We saw male Marsh fritillary butterflies, orchids i...

Would anyone be able to help identify this large moth I saw today in our meadow. It was about 3.5" long and very lovely. I've checked my moth ID book and wondered if it was an Emporer moth or Privet Hawk moth (I know nothing about moths!!)?
Many thanks.
Annemarie

Thanks for the help and advice Donna and Steve! I will take a look.

We have a beautiful old Ash tree on the edge of one of our meadows and I wondered if anyone had any information on the importance of these old trees within a meadow setting. I know they can sustain over a hundred different species of plants and animals and I would be interested to know if I could so...

West Devon Meadows Group is holding a scything course for beginners next month on Wednesday 29th May 2024. The course will be run by Kevin Austin from skyegrove.co.uk, a very experienced scythe user and teacher. May is early to cut meadows but Kevin has several areas on his 10 acre site which will b...

Many thanks to all of those who have expressed an interest in an Autumn Scything Course. Please find details below: When: Wednesday 28th September 2022 10am - 4pm Where: Nightingale Cottage, Germansweek EX21 5BP. If you’ve never been to Germansweek, it is definitely worth a visit! Tutor: Kevin Austi...

Has everyone been fortunate enough to use a scythe either in their meadow or on their lawn? Scything can be done year round, is kinder to wildlife and a highly effective and enjoyable way of cutting grass, brambles, bracken etc. The West Devon group would like to run a course for interested members ...

I wonder if anyone is able to identify this moth for me. He was quite big (about 2cm I think) with beautiful markings, sheltering beneath nettles and damp grass. Apologies for poor photo quality. Annemarie

I have just completed this lovely month by month account of life in an old Herefordshire orchard (Benedict McDonald & Nicholas Gates). This book offers an enjoyable ramble through the many animal species that make the orchard home and references several old English apple varieties which is helpf...