Discover Shropshire’s meadows this summer
Rea Brook local nature reserve, Shrewsbury
The spectacular colours of traditional meadows are disappearing in the UK and last week the Prince of Wales sought to address this as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen’s coronation in 1953.
The scheme aims to conserve flower-rich grasslands across the UK and Prince Charles has selected 60 meadows to be used as donor sites to help restore and create other wildflower meadows.
Hayton meadow, near Ludlow, has been selected as one of the 60 sites.
Shropshire is fortunate to have a large number of meadows compared to neighbouring regions in the West Midlands. Shropshire Council has both led and aided projects to preserve meadowland and have been supporting county nature groups and even schools to create new meadows.
Wilfred Owen primary school in Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, has been displaying the attitude Prince Charles hopes his scheme will inspire in others and are attempting to create a small wildflower meadow in the school grounds. Chris Huss, the head master, has spoken of the pupils’ excitement at the prospect of having a meadow on site.
Hayton meadow is privately owned, but many of the spectacular meadows in Shropshire are accessible through the public footpath network and the coming weeks in June and July will see them at their most colourful.
Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for leisure, said:
“We’re lucky here to have such an abundance of natural assets in Shropshire and meadows are a great place for a relaxing summer afternoon. I encourage us all to visit one our meadows this summer.”
Cecilia Motely, spokesperson for rural affairs at Shropshire Council, said:
“I think the Prince of Wales’s project highlights the importance of looking after our natural beauty. The benefits of the countryside to both physical and mental health are well known and preserving these special habitats is something we should continue to do.”
It is often said you don’t know what is on your own doorstep but, with the wildflowers beginning to burst into life, there is no better time to find out about Shropshire’s beautiful meadows.
Easily accessible meadows in Shropshire
- Brockton Brook Fields, Rowley
- Hope Valley Meadows
- Castle Field, Ellesmere
- Llanymynech heritage area
- Rea Brook Local Nature Reserve, Shrewsbury
- Shropshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Melverley Farm
