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Lugg Meadow

Location: Near Hereford, Herefordshire

Grid Reference: SO547 405

Lugg Meadow is a large, flat area of grassland, which lies alongside the River Lugg near Hereford. It is the largest known surviving example of Lammas Meadow – areas of common land that date back to medieval times.

Features of Lammas Meadows include the division of ownership into strips marked by dole stones, and an active commoners' association controlling the grazing rights. These are all features of Lugg Meadow today.

Plantlife owns 105 acres of Lugg Meadow in four separate parcels. The meadows flood regularly in the winter, but the underlying gravel allows fast drainage so that they do not stay waterlogged.

The meadows are still managed in accordance with the medieval system. From 2nd February (‘Candlemas’) to 1st August (‘Lammas’) the meadows are ‘shut up’ to allow for growth of a hay crop. Once the hay crop has been taken, the meadows are then thrown open for grazing by the commoners’ livestock.

Wildflowers at the reserve

Plants thriving on the meadows include oxeye daisy, yellow-rattle, meadowsweet, bird’s-foot trefoil and common knapweed. Other wildlife present includes wintering birds such as curlew, wigeon and golden plover.

Directions

Click here to download a map of the reserve.

The meadows are located between the A4103 (Worcester road) and the A438 (Lugwardine road). The nearest village to the Lugg meadows is Tupsley. There is footpath access to the Upper Lugg meadow from the Herefordshire Trust HQ. The Lower Lugg meadows can be reached from the A438. The nearest train station is Hereford which is 3 miles from the reserve.