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Meadows
The Magnificent Meadows project aims to bring life back to precious meadows and species-rich grasslands, ensuring they thrive now and for future generations.
Meadows and chalk grasslands have been a vital part of the Hampshire landscape for thousands of years. They nurture wildflowers, offer ideal habitats for wildlife, and provide essential resources for pollinators, contributing significantly to biodiversity. In doing so they act as important steppingstones for wildlife, creating interconnected habitats that cumulatively cover large areas. They also play a crucial role in intercepting rainwater, which helps reduce flooding, and they mitigate the effects of heat waves by lowering temperatures. However, sadly we have lost over 97% of our species rich grasslands in England and Wales.
We’re working Rachel Remnant, a local ecologist, to restore these rare habitats; using ecological restoration and sustainable management practices to bring back our much-loved meadows.
Magnificent Meadows Project
A series of small forgotten chalk grassland meadows are located on the outskirts of the South Downs National Park. Nestled between St Catherine’s Hill and Magdalen Hill Down, we’re working to rejuvenate the land and bring nature back to life.
The Magnificent Meadows Project aims to:
- Improve biodiversity and support wildflowers to flourish
- Create a tranquil space for residents to enjoy the mental health benefits of a thriving countryside
- Build a unique space for children to discover and explore nature
- Cultivate hay to support local livestock grazing nearby
- Connect areas in multiple ownership with help from local people
What we’re doing
In alignment with the local Nature Recovery plans for Hampshire, we aim to tackle the climate and nature emergency by restoring chalk grassland in and around Highcliffe and Bar End.
The local community, and project partners, have already played an essential role in bringing our vision to life. Our pilot project has kindly been supported by Highcliffe Community Forum for Action, WinchesterCity Council, Hampshire County Council, Butterfly Conservation, Highcliffe Allotments, The Friends of St Giles Hill, Emmaus, All Saints Primary School, The University of Winchester Sports Stadium, and All Saints Pre-school.
With their support we are creating a space that everyone in the community can enjoy. A space where people can connect with nature and learn about;
- Chalk grassland surveys
- Making hay by hand
- Making tree hay
- Wellbeing in nature
- Habitat diversity
We would also like to thank our valued partners, funders, people who have donated to our crowdfunder and those who have generously given their time to help make the Magnificent Meadows Project a success and to Rachel Remnant from Land Lore Consulting for leading this project.
Bring Winchester’s Wildflower Meadows to Life - Phase Two
Chalk Hill Jewel Garden Surveys
Many of the garden lawns in Highcliffe and Bar End contain special communities of wildflowers and grasses that are found on the chalk downs. These lawns are really special because they contain plants that have been lost from our local fields with modern herbicides and chemicals. We would like to help people look after their special lawns so that they continue to be part of our local history and a resource for future generations of people and wildlife.
Take part in our Chalk Hill Jewels Garden Lawns Survey
Making Hay by Hand
Using scythes and pitchforks, our Magnificent Meadow Volunteers have spent the summer learning about the traditional techniques of haymaking at Cowslip Meadow. Under the guidance of Rachel Remnant, they discovered how to mow, turn, row, and bail the hay for local livestock living nearby.
Watch our Meadow VolunteersReports and Study Results
