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This autumn, help us find Britain’s most colourful and important fungi – waxcaps.
Fungi are crucial to nearly all life on Earth, but they are not given the recognition and investment they deserve. Will you join our mission to change that?
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For a full dose of positivity take a look through our 2024 highlights. Let’s revisit the amazing ways we have helped protect nature for the future this year.
It’s the end of 2024, and we have been overloaded with news all year long. With so much going on in the world it can be overwhelming to try to look back and remember the positives. So, we’ve done the hard work for you! Here are some of our favourite nature news stories of positivity from the last 12 months.
The every day contributions that you make, all add up – and they make big changes for nature! Let’s look back and celebrate our shared achievements and look to how we can all take action to protect nature in 2025.
After not being seen in the wild in Wales since 1962, we led a trial reintroduction to bring back Rosy Saxifrage Saxifraga rosacea.
The trial marked a special moment for nature recovery. We used plants that had direct lineage to the 1962 specimens that once grew on the cliff edges of Eryri (Snowdonia). Maintained in cultivation for more than 60 years the plants are now flowering close to where they were last recorded decades ago.
We were so excited when it was announced that the Flow Country had been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Deep within the peat-rich Flow Country lies our own Munsary Peatlands Nature Reserve.
This historic moment for nature in Scotland, is also a world first, as the Flow Country became the first ever peatland World Heritage Site.
The Flow Country now has the same standing as the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon.
Back in June, we joined thousands of you, as well as fellow nature and climate charities in the peaceful Restore Nature Now march in London. The march called on all governments across the UK to take immediate action to protect and restore our wonderful wildlife.
With more than half of UK plant species in decline and 1 in 6 wildlife species at risk of extinction, our wildlife needs emergency action.
While there is still work to be done, the march highlighted how important nature is to people all over the UK. It helped to raise awareness of the plight of nature and push it to the forefront of our governments attention.
It gave us hope to see so many people passionate about this cause.
Watch our highlights video below to feel inspired!
We took to the streets of London to call for urgent action for nature.
You helped us create space for nature all over the UK! Thousands of you joined our annual No Mow May campaign.
From community spaces to big front lawns and mini meadows in window boxes every wild space counts. By managing our gardens and green spaces for nature through May and beyond, we can create enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate.
We’ve lost approximately 97%of flower-rich meadows since the 1930’s. This is why Plantlife calls for people to get involved with #NoMowMay every year, and let wild plants get a head start on the summer.
This year we helped to form the Alliance for Wales Rainforest. Made up of environmental charities and organisations, the Alliance is dedicated to protecting these rare habitats.
These magical forests host over 400 rare species of mosses, lichens, and wildlife, acting as biodiversity hotspots and natural carbon sinks.
One of the first pieces of work we completed together, was to publish the State of Wales Rainforest report. This report aims to draw attention to the temperate rainforest habitat, the threats that is facing and what can be done to protect it for the future.
Did you know that back in 2022, the UK’s horticultural industry got through 950,000 m³ of peat? Did you also know that peat takes a very long time to form? It grows at a rate of just 1mm per year! That’s almost one million years of peat used in just one.
Not only are peatlands an important habitat but they store huge amounts of carbon, which is released when peat is dug up.
That’s why we joined the call for the government and the horticultural industry to ban the use of peat in gardening and horticulture.
The Peat-free Partnership, a coalition of horticultural organisations and environment NGOs – including Plantlife, has sent a letter to Keir Starmer. This letter had more than 100 signatories including Chris Packham, B&Q, Co-op, Evergreen and many of our fellow eNGOs.
We led the first ever conservation attempt for One-flowered Wintergreen, Moneses uniflora, and it was a success!
The rare white flower has been in sharp decline. It is estimated that half of the UK population has been lost over the last 50 years. There’s only two known remaining patches in the Cairngorms National Park and as few as just seven populations in the whole country.
Along with our partners through our Cairngorms Rare Plants project we set out on a pioneering plan to boost it’s numbers. After surveying the site nine months after the translocation, we saw a 70% success rate– Project success lays the groundwork for a bright future for Scotland’s rare plant species
This autumn we ran our annual Waxcap Watch campaign and our Forgotten Fungi Appeal. While both different, they both contributed to protecting the future of fungi – and so did you.
Through Waxcap Watch, you helped us to survey grassland fungi sites. Waxcaps are an indicator of rare, species-rich grasslands. So surveys that show us where these fragments of ancient meadows survive, help us to make sure they are protected for the future.
And thanks to your generous donations through our Forgotten Fungi Appeal, you’ve helped us to amplify the voices of the fungi kingdom.
Thanks to your generous support of our appeal, we raised enough funds to extend our Ryewater Nature Reserve.
Your donations helped us to purchase an extra 4.45 acres of grassland which borders our nature reserve. The new land parcel needs major restoration work. We hope to start work in the summer as over the winter months the land is too wet and inaccessible. In the future this land will be managed in the same way as the rest of the site, to benefit wild plants, fungi and other species.
The existing Ryewater Farm reserve is made up of meadows, pasture and a beautiful strip of ancient woodland that runs steeply down to a stream. During the spring and into the summer, it’s awash with Common Spotted-orchid, Pignut and Yellow Rattle. The site is also rich in fungi and home to dormice and several protected bat species.
Far too often, the world’s wild plants have been forgotten and we’ve been calling to bring them to the forefront of global conservation efforts.
The adoption of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (and its 21 complementary plant conservation actions) in Cali, Colombia is a big step forward. It means a commitment to align plant conservation efforts with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which is an international agreement made up of ambitious goals and targets to combat biodiversity decline.
A Fungi Pledge was also put forward, and in a truly historic decision, COP 16 delegates agreed to create a special advisory board for Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs).
Read more from our time at COP here.
Every day, our wild plants and fungi are put at risk from planning decisions, chemical sprays and more. Find out what you can do to help protect nature.
A rainbow of wildflowers in your lawn doesn’t just bring garden owners joy, but is also the sign of a healthy and thriving garden.
Plantlife's Road Verges Advisor Mark Schofield reveals how to keep your thriving No Mow May flowering lawn blossoming into June.
Getting out and looking for fungi can be a great way to connect with nature and discover more about this amazing kingdom. Here our Specialist Botanical Advisor, Sarah Shuttleworth, gives her top tips for finding fungi!
If like us, you love fungi – getting out and discovering all of the amazing mushrooms you can find can be a really fun activity, and a great way to connect with nature!
Fungi don’t need to be scary, in fact, they can be just as fascinating for children as they are for adults. *Disclaimer: Picking a fungus can be done to help with identification. Never pick more than you need to, and avoid picking any rare or uncommon species. Looking for fungi can be a really fun activity, but make sure you know the rules of the sites you are visiting and always get permission for collecting from nature reserves or protected areas.
Whether you are brand new to the fungi kingdom and want some top tips to start your search, or maybe you have discovered our Waxcap Watch survey and want to know where to find grassland fungi to take part.
Below are some top tips of where to look and what you might find.
Woodlands are a great place to start your fungi interest as a huge proportion of fungi species are found in places with lots of trees. All the leaf litter, rotting wood and fallen branches are perfect places for fungi. When walking through a woodland look for any dead wood, fallen trees and stumps.
These areas are sure to have some fungi, maybe types of bracket fungi or clusters of yellow Sulphur Tufts or tiny little mushrooms peeping out from the moss. Sometimes under patches of bramble you can find little species hiding away or even on the rotting bramble stalks themselves. The best 4 trees to look under, whether in a woodland or a parkland, are:
These trees have many mycorrhizal associations with fungi, so often a good place to start looking.
If you are looking for a good selection of grassland species, especially the brightly coloured waxcaps and corals, then older, less intensively managed grasslands are the place to start.
Churchyards can be a good starting point, depending on how the grass has been managed over time, if it has lots of moss in the grass and doesn’t look too lush, then it might be quite old grassland.
Fields and lawns near big old houses can be good, again grasslands that don’t look too lush, like there is only one type of grass across the whole field and its very shiny looking grass (this might indicate that the grassland was ploughed and reseeded and then regularly fertilised, which waxcaps do not like).
Grassland, like that of playing fields, that is mown very regularly and the cuttings are left on the surface are not likely to be good for waxcaps, however you can still find fungi like Fairy Ring Champignon, which creates rings of mushrooms, which can be seen even when the fungi are not fruiting as the ring creates a different look to the grass. There will be other tiny little bonnets or bell fungi too, hard to identify, but fun to look at.
Shorter grass is also going to be more fruitful than areas with long tussocks that haven’t been cut or grazed for a year or more. Look for anthills, mossy patches, away from shading caused by trees or hedges. Sometimes you need to really look closely and move the grass out of the way to find them hiding in there.
Fungi underpin the health of our environment and are key to resolving the climate, ecological and societal challenges we face. Your donation could help increase understanding of fungi and get them the support they need.
For a full dose of positivity take a look through our 2024 highlights. Let's revisit the amazing ways we have helped protect nature for the future this year.
We’re thrilled that the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation was adopted at COP16. Just returned from Cali, Colombia – our Global Advocacy Officer Claire Rumsey tells us more
Here we delve into this mind-boggling realm to discover ten of weirdest, wackiest and most wonderful facts from the world of fungi!
There at least five kingdoms in our living world, including; animals, plants, fungi, protists, and the prokaryotes (which includes bacteria). While the animal and plant kingdoms are well known, fungi are often overlooked – but the world of fungi is fascinating! And they’re all around us. A network of fungi runs through the earth in every continent and can even be found in our seas.
Here we explore more of this incredible kingdom to share our passion for all things fungi. From a distant ancestral connection to how some fungi can survive on radioactive sites – read on for 10 wild, wacky and wonderful facts about the world of fungi!
Known as the Humungous Fungus, a single Armillaria organism, found in Oregon, is approximately 931 square hectares or around 70 football pitches!
The fungus is measured including its network of mycelium that run underground, so much of the mass cannot be seen. While it’s unlikely you’ll come across anything of quite that size, there are some pretty big fungi you might find on your doorstep.
For instance, another fungus species, the Giant Puffball Calvatia gigantea (shown in the illustration below) produces large, round fruiting bodies that can be seen above ground. They’re certainly hard to miss, as they can grow up to 80cms in diameter (outside of the UK, they have been known to grow as big as 1.5m). They can grow to such a size that on occasion, people have mistaken them for sheep in a field!
Fungi is a kingdom all of its own, so we don’t want to mistake it for being a plant or animal. That said, while you might expect that these interesting organisms are more closely related to plants – the opposite is true. Fungi share a common ancestor with the animal kingdom, which includes humans, dating back around 1 billion years. [1]
While that may seem an incomprehensible length of time, it might not be in the world of fungi. We don’t have conclusive evidence of how old fungi can be. Research suggests that some of the fungi on our planet today, have been alive for thousands of years.
The ‘Humungous Fungus’ is estimated to be between 1,900 and 8,650 years old! [2] Which means there could be living fungi that were present when the Vikings landed in the UK, when the Romans ruled and even when Stonehenge was erected.
Fungi might be a common feature on your breakfast plate, or in a bowl of pasta – but there are many other foods that contain fungi, which might surprise you.
Did you know that bread, beer, wine and some cheeses all include types of fungi? Yeast-forming fungi are an essential ingredient in the processes to make them and there are many different species, the most common of which is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, used in brewing and making bread.
As far as we know today there are more than 2,000 species of edible fungi in the world. [3] These range from the popular Button and Chestnut Mushrooms Agaricus bisporus to the mycoprotein that makes up the meat substitute Quorn. And they are becoming even more popular with Lion’s Mane Hericium erinaceus being added to some coffees and fungi being used to help ferment cacao beans to make chocolate!
That’s right, fungi aren’t just contained to your kitchen, you can probably find them all around house from your wardrobe to your medicine cabinet and even your beauty bag.
One common example of fungi used in medicine is Penicillin, the first antibiotic, which was derived from Penicillium mould. Other fungi produce compounds that are used to treat diseases like cancer, high cholesterol and even organ transplant rejection.
In the beauty industry mushrooms are becoming a common feature of skincare products as many have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They have even been trialled as a renewable replacement for dyes in cosmetics.
Fungal enzymes are also used in the processing and production of a variety of products including paper, leather, cotton and biofuels – and generally they replace harsher chemicals in these processes.
Fungi are essential for the nutrient cycles of the planet by acting as natural decomposers for organic matter. This means that as plants die, fungi help to break them down. In fact fungi are the only group of organisms that can break down plant cell walls.
But research suggests that fungi could also break down other substances, in a process which could be used to clean our planet. Mycoremediation, is a process that uses fungi to break down substances that cause pollution.
This process can be seen in action in places like the Amazon rainforest where local landowners are using these techniques to rid the ground of crude oil contamination.
Currently researchers are also using fungi to create filters to clean water. They’ve even found a species called Aspergillus tubingensis, which can break down plastics! [4]
And five years after the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans, was found feeding on radiation. [5] Scientists are now exploring the possibilities of this incredible fungus, looking at whether its abilities could help protect astronauts from radiation in space.
Bioluminescence is a phenomenon where a living organism is able to produce and emit light. You might have seen this trait in fireflies in the sky or algae in the water, but more than 70 types of fungi can also glow in the dark. [6]
Some of these fascinating fungi that can be found around the world include Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare (pictured on the right, in the daytime), Jack-O’Lantern Mushroom Omphalotus olearius, and Little Ping-Pong Bats Panellus pusillus.
You can even find some of these luminescent fungi in the UK – though they are rarer and weaker here than in other parts of the world.
While plants have long been heralded for their ability to store carbon, they are not the only organisms capable of doing so.
Fungi help break down organic material, using the carbon recycled by plants, and store this carbon as mycelium underground. This process helps lock atmospheric carbon in the soil, as well as releasing other nutrients into the soil which can help plants grow.
Scientists estimate that fungi could be storing up to 13.12 billion metric tons of carbon annually! [7]
We might still be finding new and exciting ways to benefit from fungi today, but our ancestors paved the way.
Most notably, a number of harvested fungi were found in the bag of Otzi ‘The Iceman’. Otzi’s mummified remains were discovered on the Italian-Austrian border in 1991. He had different species of fungi with him, though the intended uses of these cannot be known. Otzi is estimated to have been alive between 3350 and 3105 BC, meaning humans have been connected to fungi for at least 5,000 years!
While we tend to think of fungi in that stereotypical umbrella form, they can come in a variety of different sizes and shapes – including some pretty impressive lookalikes!
Take the Jelly Ear Fungus Auricularia auricula – a common fungus that you can often find on decaying or dead Elder. This odd fungus gets its name because it looks and feels, almost completely like a human ear!
Then there’s Dead Man’s Fingers Xylaria polymorpha! Just about as creepy visually as it sounds. The fruiting bodies are long and club shaped, and could easily be mistaken for a hand poking up out of the soil.
Finally, a much less scary lookalike, is the Bird’s Nest Fungus Crucibulum laeve – named because it’s fruiting body almost perfectly resembles a tiny bird’s nest filled with eggs! When it rains, drops splash into the nest shape and knock out one of the little discs, which contain the spores, helping them to spread.
OK, it’s all relative – you’re not going to find a mushroom that brings out the blue skies or creates a thunderstorm over your town. But there is research to suggest that some species, including Shitake Lentinula edodes and Oyster Mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus could create their own mini weather systems. [8]
The science behind this phenomenon is evaporative cooling. Mushrooms release water, which evaporates in the warm air, turning into water vapour. The water vapour then cools the air, which sinks and the warm air in turn rises. As the air moves it creates a small breeze, probably not one that we would notice – but it’s enough for the fungi.
Even a whisper of a breeze can help to disperse the tiny spores and spread them over a larger distance. This trick is especially helpful on hot days where there isn’t any wind to assist.
Chris Jones, the Warden of Kenfig National Nature Reserve, recently found the very rare fungus, during a routine survey.
Fungi are one of our most fascinating creations, and best of all, they are right under our noses – perfect for children to spot.
Britain’s waxcap grasslands are considered to be the best in Europe. Discover the pressures these colourful fungi and their habitats face…
Often when people think about autumnal colours, their first thought is the trees – but we can’t stop looking at the colourful displays of our other wild plants and fungi!
Autumn might be associated with shorter days and crisp walks with the first chill in the air, but for us, it’s all about the amazing changes in nature!
As a new season ushers in with the first autumn fungi forming, we have rounded up a list of our favourite fungi and wild plants that signal the arrival of autumn.
First things first, when does autumn actually start?
We know that the sun is still shining and the air is warm, so why are we talking about autumn? Well meteorologically speaking, September 1 marks the first day of autumn. The meteorological seasons are broken up neatly into three months each, so autumn lasts from September 1, until November 30.
There is another definition of autumn however, which is astronomical, and splits the year using the two solstices, summer and winter, and the two equinoxes spring and autumn. The astronomical autumn begins on September 22, 2024, though it can differ year to year by a couple of days either side.
One of the most well-known signs that autumn is on the way is the humble Bramble Rubus fruticosus agg and its famous fruit, the blackberry. This prickly shrub can be a problem plant as it spreads quickly and outcompetes others, however it does provide an important component of scrub and edge habitats, with it’s fruits and flowers feeding many creatures as well as structure for homes. It can be found in multiple locations from woodlands to waste grounds and from verges to hedgerows.
Interestingly, while you might think a blackberry is just a blackberry, there’s actually been more than 400 microspecies identified in Britain! Each different microspecies has a slightly different fruiting time, size, texture and taste.
Read more here.
Autumn means fungi! As the seasons start changing, more fungi start fruiting. While you can find some species all year round, autumn is the prime time for finding flourishing fungi. From the pretty Ballerina Waxcap Porpolomopsis calyptriformis to the fitting colours of the Olive Earthtongue Microglossum olivaceum, once you start looking you’ll spot fungi all over, from woodlands to grasslands and from dunes to your garden.
The start of September also marks the launch of our annual Waxcap Watch survey, to encourage people to get out in the field (and the woods and the meadows) and hunt for some of our most beautiful, colourful and varied fungi – the waxcaps. This citizen science survey is so important because it helps us protect them as well as the fragments of ancient grasslands that they call home. You don’t need any ID skills, just a smartphone or access to a computer.
Take part in Waxcap Watch here.
We might associate wildflowers with spring, and while it’s true that lots of our beautiful blooms blossom through the spring and summer seasons, there’s many to be found in autumn. Some of the prettiest wildflowers to spot now include:
It’s not just flowers that are in bloom that are worth keeping your eyes out for in autumn. September means seeds and many of the UKs wildflowers will be seeding in autumn. And some of them produce seeds as pretty as their petals. Look out for:
Finally, we mentioned above the changing colours of the falling leaves on the trees, but our wild plants also produce some beautiful autumnal displays.
As we move into autumn, look out for;
This autumn, help Plantlife find Britain’s most colourful and important fungi – waxcaps.
Join Senior Ecologist Sarah Shuttleworth for a deadwood date, as she shares what gets fungi swiping right on the wood wide web.
Britain is home to one of the rarest habitats in the world – the temperate rainforest. But how would you know if you were walking in one?
From citizen science and volunteering, to making space for nature and forging a deeper connection with it – conservation is for everyone.
Nature needs our help. The UK’s plant species are in decline, and 1 in 6 wildlife species are at risk of extinction.
But, there is so much hope. We have been involved in a number of projects that have brought species back from extinction, helped protect species on the edge and encouraged thousands to let their lawns grow wild for nature. And the good news is, everyone can help.
So, to celebrate World Nature Conservation Day, held annually on 28 July, we are sharing ideas on how you can protect nature. Whether you’re a landowner or someone without a garden – there are ways for everyone to get involved.
Within the world of conservation there are many ways to volunteer your time, and we have opportunities out in the field, or even from home. We currently have a team of dedicated volunteers that support us with conservation work, botanical surveys and on our website – there’s something for everyone.
For example, we are currently looking for volunteers for a working group in Wales at the Plantlife Cae Blaen Dyffryn Reserve near Lampeter. Depending on the time of year you could be helping with scrub control or conducting botanical and habitat surveys. Find out more about volunteering with us here.
And of course you don’t have to volunteer through us, there are many other charities in the conservation sector you could opt for.
Hear from our volunteer Jane in the video below.
The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS) is a national project that sees hundreds of citizen scientists heading out to take part in botanical surveys. These surveys continue to provide a growing dataset across the UK, enabling us to study the abundance and diversity of plants through time, within 30 different habitatsThe NPMS, which is a partnership of between us at Plantlife and BSBI, UKCEH, and the JNCC, encourages people to conduct surveys twice a year to provide data that helps us study the abundance and diversity of plants over time.
You don’t need a botanical background to get started. as there are different levels to choose from, with beginners asked to record just 10 to 15 common and easily identifiable species at each plot.Find out more on our website here, or visit NPMS here to join.
Thousands of people already take part in No Mow May and No Mow Summer each year, to leave parts of their lawns wild for nature.
Lawns can sometimes be overlooked, but they are full ecosystems right out of our front doors. From the variety of grasses you can find, to the pretty wildflowers that pop up and the insects and pollinators that rely on these areas, to the realm of fungi and microbes that live among the roots. We know you might not be able to leave your whole lawn all summer, but reserving areas for a wilder lawn can make a huge difference.
Read our full lawn management guide here.
Whether it’s by spending a virtual minute in a meadow with our video below, or heading to your local nature reserve – connecting with nature is so important.
The health of nature and our own health and wellbeing are intrinsically linked. There are countless studies that show the benefits time in nature can have – from lower stress levels, to improved mood and mental health.
For more ideas, visit our Explore the Outdoors page here and discover more of the magical world of wild plants and fungi.
We are lucky to have some incredibly special native species right on our doorstep, and with nature in decline, sewing the seeds of native wildflowers can go a long way to help. These varieties have evolved in unison with our wildlife, so our pollinators and insects will thank you too.
Some species to consider including are Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis, and Sweet Violet Viola odorata. It’s always best to get your seeds locally if possible (try asking landowners if you can collect seeds with their permission), but we also have a number of seed packs available in our shop. From the perfect plants for ponds, to wildflower mixtures and individual species – visit our shop here.
If you’re interested in using native wildflowers to create a pollinator friendly garden, you can read our full guide here.
Every day, our wild plants and fungi are put at risk from planning decisions, chemical sprays and more. But hope is not lost. If you see nature in danger, there are a number of things that you can do to help protect the plants and fungi in your community.
From being aware of the species in your area and helping to record them, to raising any concerns with your local planning authority or elected councillors – you can help stand up for wildlife.
Read our guide here to stand up for nature.
We know that nature can help boost our wellbeing, but it can also improve connection to our communities.
One way to share the love of nature is to start a community meadow. Not only will you encourage more plant and animal wildlife to your local area, but you can enjoy time outdoors, make new friends and share the importance of nature.
Community meadows can help pollinators, store carbon, provide green spaces for everyone to enjoy and tackle biodiversity loss.
Read our guide on how to start a community meadow here.
Agricultural grasslands dominate Wales’ rural landscape. Finding ways to restore species-rich habitats to farms is a priority for Plantlife Cymru.
Plantlife and WWF study on grassland demonstrate how wild plants and fungi are at the heart of climate crisis. Calling world governments to recognise sites for wild plants and fungi
It’s been 25 years since a local campaign helped save Skylark Meadows, we look back at this positive story of people protecting nature.
This year marks 25 years since the stunning Skylark Meadows in Somerset first became a protected Plantlife nature reserve – thanks to the local community who rallied to save it.
Back in 1997, news broke that the farmer who had owned and managed the land as a traditional hay meadow was looking to retire and sell the 18-acre patch that had become a haven, not only for plant and animal wildlife, but for the local residents as well. With the future of the meadows in jeopardy, the community organised an appeal to raise the funds needed to buy it.
Donald Rayner from Bawdrip, one of the residents instrumental to saving the site, remembered the day he first realised how special the meadows were: “My friends had started without me, so I set off after them across what we now call Skylark Meadows. They were ahead, and I was alone in the fields. I heard skylarks where they simply shouldn’t be. I knew I’d come across something special.”
With a race against time on their hands, the community formed the Skylark Meadows Rescue Group. Local resident Pam Earnshaw was instrumental in heading up the campaign, hosting group meetings and working hard to raise the funds needed to secure its future.
When the appeal first launched, Bob Cornes from English Nature visited the site and was quoted as saying: “It was immediately obvious to me that this was a 50-species meadow. That puts it in the top echelon of conservation sites.”
The group had worked hard and raised a good sum, but they were still short. In 1999, they reached out to us at Plantlife and we stepped in to cover the additional costs and purchase Skylark Meadows. It has been officially protected as a nature reserve ever since.
Speaking of the success of the campaign, Donald said: “It provides a positive example of community achievement here and everywhere.”
The site is home to a range of plants, grasses and wildflowers. These include Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra, Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare, Pepper Saxifrage Silaum silaus and the hay meadow speciality Corky-fruited Water-dropwort Oenanthe pimpinelloides.
As well as the rich variety of plants, the meadows provide a habitat for animal wildlife. The skylarks from which the meadows get their name, can still be seen and heard overhead. Old hedgerows provide a safe haven for birds like whitethroats and linnets as well as mammals including badgers and foxes. Barn owls nest in the owl boxes, brown hares and roe deer have both also been spotted in the meadows.
Finally, the variety in beautiful wildflowers every year attracts an array of pollinators, in particular butterflies.
The meadows looking beautiful with a sea of yellow wildflowers
A butterfly resting on a wildflower at Skylark Meadows
One of the many visitors to Skylark Meadows
It is particularly popular with butterflies in the summer
Many of the locals who were involved in the original campaign have maintained strong connections to the site, including Donald.
“I help with the monitoring of the owl boxes with the HOT group [Hawk and Owl Trust], and try to keep the water trough clean when not in use etc,” he said.
Since taking ownership of the site, we have expanded the original two meadows by purchasing a third field to add to the nature reserve. We have been continuing to manage the whole site using traditional hay meadow methods.
Donald said: “It has increased from 18 acres to 24 acres by allowing the field to west to be obtained then managed in the same traditional hay meadow routine i.e. cut only [once a year] then grazed September to winter then left to regrow without any form of ‘artificial’ or natural growth aids. Thus protecting the needs of the meadow flora.”
Donald Rayner
The nature reserve now encompasses the original two unimproved grassland meadows that we purchased back in 1999, as well as a former silage field which we added to the reserve in 2003.
The original meadows have never had fertiliser or heavy machinery used on them and have always been maintained using traditional hay meadow methods. We have continued these methods and incorporated them into managing the third newer field as well – though it takes many years to restore meadowland.
We manage the meadows by cutting only once a year and then introducing grazing in the late summer and early autumn.
Old hedgerows of Hawthorn Crataegus and Blackthorn Prunus spinosa and lovely Crack Willow Salix fragilis trees have been managed with pollarding (cut low on the trunk to harvest regenerating branches and encourage regrowth).
For 25 years, and for the future, the meadows remain protected for the community and nature.
Donald said: “It offers all ages a chance to enjoy bird song, flowers and open land in a large landscape of natural features. Children visit from the school and the footpaths provide an opportunity for all to visit, learn and enjoy from all over the country.”
The purchase of this meadow was made possible with help from Unilever (Timotei), Somerset Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, Sedgemoor District Council, Gerber Foods, Wyvern Environmental Trust, the Charles Hayward Trust and the community through the Skylark Meadows Rescue Group.
Visit our beautiful reserve in Somerset for the chance to see Yellow Rattle, Common Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy and Pepper Saxifrage.
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