Over the last few weeks the meadows have been doing a sterling job of containing millions of gallons of floodwater from entering the town, saving it from a huge clean up bill. This hasn't gone unnoticed and was reported in the Herald, as well as other social media outlets, which means that this wonderful acreage is back on people's radar, something that the Trust is determined to ensure remains the case through a series of events scheduled throughout the year.
A large number of people transit through the meadow on a daily basis going to school or work or to the shops but very few spend any meaningful time there unless they are walking their dog or perhaps going for a run. For the uninitiated the meadows can appear featureless, like a barren landscape with little to engage them and make them venture and explore. This is a pity but we have the opportunity and resources to change that perception through visual stimulation, education, media and involvement.
Our first project involves making the meadows a more attractive place to spend some time and to achieve this we have taken delivery of over 7,000 perennial wildflower plug plants. These are being 'grown on' at the council greenhouses and we are now in the process of arranging work parties involving local business' to get them planted during March and April. We have also used our links with the Farnham in Bloom Community, and the ' Bloomin Kids ' initiative, for further work parties and are actively engaging with our local primary schools. Details of the plant out days will be posted on the website and on the noticeboards on the meadows and if you wish to be involved please make contact - the more the merrier!
This is the start of a long term project that will see the Trust work collaboratively with other local groups with the aim of improving the biodiversity, increasing public engagement and giving scope for nature education for our local schoolchildren so that they may embrace the importance of our open spaces in the years to come. We will be sending out a regular newsletter to inform everyone of progress, together with a schedule of upcoming events which we hope you will want to be involved in.
