Summer has well and truly set in and now we’re experiencing some more manageable temperatures, I’ve been able to get out and enjoy my favourite summer spectacle, wildflowers. They light up roadside verges, community spaces and are now securing a spot in many people’s gardens, but my absolute favourite way to see them is in meadows. Flowers catching in the breeze like waves, with the hum of pollinators and flutter of butterflies, meadows were once a much more common sight but have experienced a catastrophic 97% decline in the past 50 years.  

What is a meadow and why are they important? 

A meadow’s true classification is ‘lowland species-rich grassland’, much less catchy! They are a mix of wildflowers and grasses that support a huge range of wildlife. Research from Plantlife found that a large meadow in good condition can have more than 500 flowers per square metre and can support more than 1,000 invertebrates! 

There are many different types of meadow and different flowers will be present depending on the type of soil you’re on, so a meadow in one part of the country may look different to another. 

They’re not just important for wildlife, the undisturbed soil can store up to 500% more carbon than a field of the same size that’s all grass. Plus, the deep roots of some of the plants found there means they can survive droughts and even potentially play a role in flood reduction! They’re an unsung hero in the fight to mitigate climate breakdown. 

Why are they at risk? 

Meadows are more than just beautiful to look at, they form part of our history and culture. They exist because of a cycle of maintenance which is key to their success. 

In the past meadows were part of traditional rotational farming, they’d be allowed to grow until late July or August, then after the flowers had gone to seed, they’d be cut for hay and grazed by animals. This cycle is significant because it suppresses the more vigorously growing grass species and gives a huge range of wildflowers a chance to thrive. In early spring any grazing animals would be moved off the meadow, the diverse range of plants would grow again and the pattern would continue. 

With pressure on farmers to produce more food, the cycle has been interrupted, and many meadows have been moved into growing crops or seeded with grasses that allow farmed animals to graze more of the year.  

Are they making a comeback? 

Awareness around the importance of meadows has increased in recent years and I’m amazed at the appetite people have for creating mini-meadows. It’s such a big win for nature and relatively easy on a small scale, even your lawn could become a meadow with some careful maintenance. But to truly make a comeback, we need meadows both large and small, so spaces like nature reserves and working with landowners to create and restore meadows is a key part of the puzzle. 

Inspired to visit a meadow? 

You absolutely should be! Not just for the chance to see wildlife, but spending time looking at wildflowers has been shown to lower blood pressure - is there anything they can’t do! Visiting a meadow really does feel like stepping back in time and slowing down. You could count butterflies or look for crickets among the flowers or even step it up a notch and test your wildflower identification skills.  

Head to our website to find out which of our reserves have meadows, learn how to create your own, and buy the seeds that will make it possible from our wildflower nursery at Grow Wilder: avonwildlifetrust.org.uk