The Meadow Makers' Network Forum

The Meadow Makers’ Conference 2025 - 12th July, Chagford, Dartmoor

A Moor Meadows event celebrating ten years of working together to create a network of meadows across Devon and beyond. All meadow-makers from anywhere are welcome.

For further details and to book, visit: https://meadowmakersconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow landowners, farmers, and gardeners for a day filled with expert talks, inspiring ideas, and practical advice - all framed within the broader context of nature recovery.

The event will be held at the Jubilee Hall in Chagford, Dartmoor, with a lineup of outstanding speakers including:

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, on nature recovery; Miles King, conservationist and writer, on the ecological richness of meadows; Dr Phil Stirling, butterfly and moth expert, on creating grasslands for wildflowers, butterflies, and moths.; Laura Larkin, from Buglife, on wildlife-friendly gardening and creating mini meadows; ecologist John Walters, on swifts and how we can support them.; Claire Pinches, Principal Scientific Analyst at Natural England, on wood meadows and the significance of scrub.

During the break out session, choose to go on one of the following: a guided walks to local meadows, a beginners' wildflower ID workshop or a Bug hunt workshop.

Come along for a day of learning, sharing, and celebrating all things meadows!

Tickets: £25 (£15 for under 25’s)

For further details and to book, visit: https://meadowmakersconference2025.eventbrite.co.uk

Do you have a timetable? Unfortunately it's our village carnival but I could make 10 to 12.

Here is the timetable (maybe a few tweaks on the day!):

MOOR MEADOWS: 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE
The Jubilee Hall, Chagford, 12 July 2025

PROGRAMME

09:15 Registration and coffee at The Jubilee Hall

10:00 Donna Cox, Chair of Moor Meadows
Welcome

10:10 Sophie Pavelle, author & science communicator
Introduction to the day

10:15 Tony Juniper, Chair, Natural England (keynote speaker)
Nature's recovery

11:05 Claire Pinches, Principal Analyst, Natural England
Integrating woody and open habitats for nature’s recovery

12:00 Miles King, People Need Nature
What Makes a Meadow? A Dive into Its Definition and Value

12:30 Sophie Pavelle,
Moor Meadows 10th birthday review and the Big Devon Meadows Count

12:40 - 14:30 Lunch & breakout sessions
• John Walters: Talk on swifts (Jubilee Hall, followed by churchyard amble to see the birds)
• Guided walk to Padley Common (1 hour)
• Guided Walk to local flower-rich 2-acre meadow (1 hour)
• Plant ID for beginners in the churchyard or meadow
• Bug ID workshop in the local meadow

14:30 Meadow-Makers’ Question Time

15:00 Dr Phil Stirling, national expert on butterflies and moths
Creating grasslands for wildflowers, butterflies and moths - principles and real-world examples

15:30 Laura Larkin, Buglife
Gardening for Wildlife

16:00 Close of conference, refreshments