Blackdown Hills meadows and pastures

[GavinBlackdowns]

Hello from the Blackdown Hills!

We've a lot of wonderful flower-rich pastures and meadows in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, notably acid marshy pasture on greensand around the springline, and some calcareous meadows and pastures where calcareous rocks outcrop. Some are managed as part of commercial farms, often within Stewardship agreements, and some now form part of smallholdings or hobby farms.

Beyond the 'cream' of flower-rich pastures there is also a lot of other permanent pasture which may have been agriculturally improved but which has huge value for its undisturbed soils and carbon storage.

Through our Facilitation Fund (FF) we try to provide training and events to bring owners of valuable wildlife habitats and wider farmland together to learn from one another and from outside expertise. The FF goes under the title The Blackdown Hills Farming and Woodland Group, and is supported by the Blackdown Hills AONB, Butterfly Conservation and the Blackdown Hills Rough Grazing Association. The group can be contacted by emailing gavinsaunders@btinternet.com.

If you've a question, announcement or suggestion about meadows and pastures in the Blackdown Hills, do post here!

[Floodmaster]

Hi
I'm new here, and from Hemyock. I have about 3/4 acre on a steep west facing slope. It was overgrazed when we got it, so we are planting a few replacement trees and have sown yellow rattle. It's come up!

We wonder if there is a way to borrow a couple of sheep to take the August growth off and tread seed in. Any pointers? Our fencing is ok. Are we even doing the right thing?
Look forward to hearing from you

[Chapplecroft]

hi
we are in membury and have land that was over grazed when we bought it. we have left it ungrazed for two cutting seasons and the difference in wildlife (both quantity and diversity) is amazing.

the plant species that have returned is also outside anything we could have expected.

we are going to cut it this year (doing our slopes by hand). we have 30 acres.

if you're interested in seeing what happens when you leave it ungrazed for 3 years (August 2020 to August 2023) you're very welcome. please dm me.

[vicky whitworth]

Hello,
Just put our pinky-dinkly orchard meadow on the map. We're in Chardstock, and have a tiny wildflower meadow in our equally tiny orchard. The orchard is shown on the 1760 Deeds to the cottage, and as far as we know has never been ploughed, fertilised or had pesticide applied. The orchard, garden and cottage were carved out of the old manorial 'waste' at the edge of Eggmoor which was one of the old commons. Probably allowed to be built as the occupant may have 'kept the gate' on to the commons keeping out the unwelcome.