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Davies Meadows

Location: near Calver Hill, Norton Canon, Herefordshire

Grid Reference: SO 375 485

This tranquil 20-acre reserve in west Herefordshire is bordered by thick hedgerows, which enclose three unimproved hay meadows, a perry pear orchard and a pond.

Colourful old hay meadows such as those found at this reserve are now extremely uncommon in the British countryside – more than 98% of unimproved meadows have been lost over the last 60 years. They lie on the northern side of the Wye Valley, dominated by a landscape of rounded hills and hollows, created approximately 10,000 years ago by the retreating Wye glacier. They are underlain by glacial moraine and consist of three unimproved meadows, an ancient perry pear orchard, an area of marshland surrounded by large pollarded willows and a pond.

The meadows are cut for hay in the summer and grazed during the autumn, as would have been the traditional practice. A project is also underway to restore the perry pear orchard and its associated wildlife.

Wildflowers at the reserve

WHAT TO SEE AND WHEN

May: green-winged orchid, cowslip, pignut, meadow buttercup

June: common spotted-orchid, yellow rattle, lady's bedstraw, common catsear, lesser spearwort, tormentil

July: The hay is usually cut around the middle of July, but in the first two weeks of this month you can see late flowering meadow species such as black knapweed, pepper-saxifrage and betony

Summer visitors to Davies Meadows can enjoy wandering amongst an array of wild flowers including green-winged orchid, yellow-rattle, knapweed, pignut and meadow vetchling.

The mixed hedgerows, pond and old meadows also provide excellent habitat for other wildlife. Frogs and toads are regularly seen and grass snakes have been recorded in the past.

Directions

Click here to download a map of the reserve.

From Hereford, take the A438 signposted to Brecon, then take the A480 signposted to Lyonshall.  Continue along the A480, passing the road to Weobly on your right.  Pass the Three Horseshoes public house and a petrol station.  Davies Meadows are situated just after these landmarks on the left-hand side.

The nearest train station is Hereford, which is 10 miles from the reserve.