Floodplain Meadows Partnership

Landscape Recovery: Shaping the Future of the Ock and Thame Catchments Read here: https://lnkd.in/dFduEuAj The Defra-funded Ock and Thame Farmers Landscape Recovery project represents a landmark opportunity for RTCT, providing a framework to shape sustainable land management across the Ock and Thame catchments for years to come. Project Manager Hilary Phillips offers her insights and an update on the development phase of this strategically significant initiative. Photo Credit: Ben Crowther @benc_photography #LandscapeRecovery #SustainableFarming Freshwater Habitats Trust Floodplain Meadows Partnership Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Rivers Trust The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery North East Cotswold Farmer Cluster

Today is #WorldSoilsDay! Our #floodplainmeadows look amazing in the summer but have you ever wondered what is going on underground? Join David Gowing to find out more 👇🪱🌼 https://lnkd.in/eBf-kZAa

What’s happening in #FloodplainMeadows in December? As the year draws to an end our meadows are again at rest. Some plants have drawn nutrients down underground ready for next spring, seeds have found soil to germinate in and floods will bring nutrient-rich sediments for the next cycle. Pause and reflect 💤❄️🍃 https://lnkd.in/ez6yQcRY

Denbigh School students and teachers have helped to inform future priorities for Floodplain Meadows Partnership research. Here's a summary of how we worked together: https://lnkd.in/eTQA8uBP David Gowing, Emma Rothero, Yoseph N. Araya, Vicky Bowskill, Olivia Nelson, Sarah Davies, Jonathan Burgess, Laura Chrisman, Emma Hanby, Anthony Steed NERC: Natural Environment Research Council

We’re thrilled to be developing the first grassland-specific toolkit to help farmers protect and restore more species-rich grasslands! 🌱Species-rich grasslands can deliver enormous benefits for wildlife, biodiversity and the climate. 🌸With approximately 97% of the UK’s species-rich grassland lost in less than a century, we are working with farmers to protect and restore them. Supporting smaller farms, with fewer resources, is a great opportunity to support food production and the restoration of grassland - and help farmers access alternative forms of finance 🌿 We are creating a toolkit with funding from the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) to complete the ‘Realising grassland potential: an ecosystems services toolkit for farmers’ project. And thanks to partners - Floodplain Meadows Partnership, National Landscapes Association, Pasture for Life & Finance Earth Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Environment Agency Natural England Read more here - https://lnkd.in/gcNmVVq3

Our Autumn Newsletter is out! Dive in to find out more about: 🏆Floodplain Meadows Project Wins OSC Challenge Us! Competition Funding Award 🤝FMP At The Grassland Parliamentary Reception 🌼FMP Fieldwork Program in the Summer 2024 🌱Why Use a Scythe? Oxley Mead Hay Cutting Trial 🗺️A Method For Identifying Historic Floodplain Meadows Through Readily Available Online Maps to Aid Restoration Decision Making 🚜Grassland Restoration With Plant Material Transfer: Bridging the Knowledge Gap Between Science and Practice 🌍SERE Conference https://lnkd.in/edbNG5nA

As a Floodplain Meadows Ambassador, I have the delight of being part of a nationwide network of practitioners. We are from a range of backgrounds, from researchers to farmers. We are united by our love for species rich floodplain meadows and taking action to promote their multiple ecosystem services. On Friday those of us who had led field talks at last year's conference (and therefore not heard each other) gathered with the inspirational Catriona Bass and Kevan Martin at their long pole barn and plug planting nursery at Long Mead, Eynsham, Oxford. Take aways included: - When applying green hay to enhance species diversity, most species will show in the first 2 years. - The importance of reverting arable land back to grassland to prevent soil run off - terrible for the field and the river. - Related to point 2, farm payments need to support grassland restoration on river valleys. - Concern about the unknown impact of increasing incidence of polluted water on flora and fauna. - Social value of involving support groups with restoration, e.g. via Long Mead's wildflower nursery. - Best restoration comes from fields adjacent to good habitat, keep going and connect them up! Thank you Floodplain Meadows Partnership https://lnkd.in/eSW3PCDf #floodplain #ecosystemservices #meadow #river #history #restoration #speciesrichgrassland #collaboration

What’s happening in #FloodplainMeadows in November? With ground conditions becoming wetter most will have been shut up for the winter. This prevents compaction damage to the wet soils and allows seed to settle into any bare patches to germinate next spring 🌱 https://lnkd.in/espgVJmZ

Congratulations to our Big Chalk partners, led by Plantlife International, on securing NEIRF funding to develop the UK’s first grassland-specific toolkit designed to empower farmers in restoring species-rich grasslands and accessing alternative financial support! With 97% of these habitats, including chalk and limestone grasslands, lost in the last century, it’s essential to take action together to bring them back.   The toolkit will focus on smaller farms, providing practical advice on grass types, soil management, cutting regime, and grazing. By enhancing understanding of ecosystem services, it’ll help farmers access funding for restoration efforts and shift towards more regenerative grassland management.   Together with project partners Finance Earth, National Landscapes Association, Floodplain Meadows Partnership, Pasture for Life, The Soil Association and Nature Friendly Farming Network, Plantlife are committed to supporting a sustainable future for farming and nature.    Big Chalk is a predominantly farmed landscape and we know many farmers and land managers care deeply about nature. This toolkit will support them in managing more grasslands well for nature, helping deliver our vision of nature-rich landscapes that benefit all of us.  More details on our website, visit https://lnkd.in/gj2SWNqc #Plantlife #GrasslandRestoration #Biodiversity #SustainableFarming #Collaboration #BigChalk #BigChalkConference #NatureRecovery #CommunityEngagement #Conservation #Sustainability #TogetherForNature #ChalkLandscapes #PartnershipWorking #ClimateAction #ProtectedLandscapes #HabitatRestoration #Farming #Farmers #FarmingInProtectedLandscapes #MakingSpaceForNature #PartnershipsForChange #Defra #ChalkStreams Floodplain Meadows Partnership Finance Earth National Landscapes Association Pasture for Life Natural England Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Nature Friendly Farming Network Soil Association Soil Association Exchange Image: © Andy Rumming, Waterhay Farm

A spot of meadow advocacy action at the Westminster reception on the value of #grasslands this week, along with the gorgeous weaving artwork we commissioned from Alice Walker last year. Passing on the message to encourage your MP to sign the Early Day Motion on the need to better look after nature rich grasslands before we lose them all.. https://lnkd.in/eF3femCD