Moor Meadows has created a successful volunteer-led model on Dartmoor to inspire landowners to create or restore meadows, and share expertise to encourage more people to get involved.

The Big Meadow Count will audit, survey, evaluate, and protect as many species-rich grassland sites as possible across Devon – increasing knowledge of this under-represented habitat to better understand the extent and quality of fragmented sites.

There is currently a lack of consistent data on meadows outside of SSSIs and County Wildlife Sites; a lack of support for small meadow owners; and a lack of data on new species-rich meadows created through green hay or seeding. This means a whole set of new meadow sites in Devon are under-recorded and unrecognised.

The Big Meadow Count  will empower landowners by giving them the tools, knowledge, and survey skills to better protect grassland sites.

It will provide training and a common format for recording information about site boundaries, species lists, and habitat management.

In year 1, data for a minimum of 230 sites will be digitised and analysed by Devon Biodiversity Records Centre. The year will culminate with a celebration of sites, a review of progress, and a discussion within the network about how privately-owned grassland habitats can be best protected for the future.

Key project deliverables:

• A clearer picture of the extent and quality of species-rich grasslands in Devon owned and managed by Moor Meadows members (currently 575 sites)
• Better site protection through inclusion of data in DBRC database, local authority, planning, and other searches, and for use in agri-environmental schemes
• An empowered group of landowners who have the skills and information necessary to protect and manage grasslands into the future.

 

Image credits: Moor Meadows