Bartonsham Meadows lie within the meander of the River Wye to the south east of Hereford city and are a popular place for walkers as they are circled and crossed by footpaths. Since 2023, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust have been responsible for management of the site, having signed a long-term lease, and plan to restore the meadows for wildlife and for people.
We are restoring part of the site, which is regularly inundated by the River Wye, to be species-rich, floodplain meadows. These will give a home to iconic meadow wildlife such as skylarks, barn owls and voles while pollinators including orange-tip butterflies and bumblebees will benefit from the spring and summer flowers.
The remainder of the site is being managed to allow natural processes to create habitats for wildlife. A few grazing animals will be allowed to roam within the fence which has now been erected and over time the vegetation will create a patchwork of grassland and scrub which will be a fantastic habitat for all kinds of wildlife.
During this Guided Walk you will hear about the history of the site, how it is being currently managed as well as which species we are hoping to see in the not too distant future.
