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Lowland wet grassland creation and management E1
Tuesday 19 May
Great Steeping, Lincs
Facilitator: Roger Wardle, Roger Wardle Consultancy and Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marsh Project *
This is a practical look at managing, restoring and re-creating, on a field or landscape scale, botanically rich lowland grassland and wet grassland for breeding waders. The day is suitable for those interested in lowland and wet grassland in a variety of situations including Environmental Stewardship. Most of the time will be spent visiting three very successful projects:
- A species-rich ridge-and-furrow hay meadow restored 18 years ago from species poor grassland.
- A wet hay meadow recreation with sluices, scrapes and colonising green winged orchids.
- A large wet grassland for breeding waders, created in 2003 from arable land, using new ideas to provide a diverse and wet habitat with the use of on site precipitation only. Cattle management, seeding and construction methodology will be discussed.
- Around 80 pairs of breeding waders occupy 45ha of former arable land
For more information on the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marsh Project and Roger's work see www.lincsmarshes.org.uk
Fee £100 / £75 concession (see booking form for more details) BOOK NOW 
Managing paddocks for ponies and biodiversity W2
Thursday 20 May
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Facilitator: Frances Clayton with Charles Morgan and Richard Smith
An opportunity for horse and pony owners to learn how they can manage horse pasture more effectively to benefit their animals and, at the same time, improve their land for wildlife and the landscape. This event will look at animal health issues, and techniques available to improve the species diversity of pasture.
Free (supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
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Enhancement and management of grassland SE2
Friday 11 June
Bishop's Waltham, Hants
Facilitators: Pete Potts* and Charles Flower **
The workshop will take a practical look at different species-rich grassland sites: seeding new chalk banks, reseeding neglected chalk down and enhancing an existing sward/hay meadow by changing management. The day will include a discussion of techniques for enhancing existing grasslands and developing new wildflower grassland using seeds.
*www.hants.gov.uk/countryside
** www.charlesflower-wildflowers.co.uk
Fee £100/£75 concession
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Grassland restoration for new owners and managers Ref W3
Friday 11 June 2pm-5pm
Mold, Flintshire
Facilitator: Alun Evans
A course aimed at people that are new to grassland management and restoring Wild Meadows, interested in increasing the numbers of wild flowers on their site. This farm walk will cover different restoration techniques, looking at the positives and the problems faced in such projects. There will be an opportunity to visit a nearby SSSI grassland.
Free (supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
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Restoring wild meadows - Ceredigion Ref W6
Wednesday 30 June 10am-4pm
Ceredigion, mid Wales
Facilitator: Denmark Farm Conservation Centre
The course will provide an introduction to grassland ecology and communities. The relationships between grassland types, management, and change will be reviewed, along with practical guidance on how to recognise, assess, record and manage different communities. The latter will focus on ways of changing and maintaining grassland to enhance biodiversity. About half the course will be outdoors and some basic guidance on the recognition of common grassland species in the field will be available www.shared-earth-trust.org.uk
Free (supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
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An introduction to grassland management Ref W7
Tuesday 6 July 2pm-5pm
Carmel, Carmarthenshire
Facilitator: Grasslands Trust
This event, which will involve a walk around Carmel National Nature Reserve, is aimed at new and inexperienced grassland owners or managers who are interested in managing their land for biodiversity. There will be an opportunity to see and understand grassland management at the reserve, and look at different types of grassland habitat.
Free (supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
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Using wild seeds to enhance biodiversity Ref E2
Tuesday 6 July
Kings Lynn, North Norfolk
Facilitator: Richard Brown, Emorsgate Seeds
This day will review the use of wild seeds for landscaping and biodiversity projects. A 2-ha collection of stock plants, originating from as far apart as Northumberland and Cornwall, will be used to review issues of biodiversity and seed origin. Practical guidelines on specifying seed will be presented, covering selection of appropriate species and seed origin. The Countryside Stewardship scheme and extensive demonstration plots established on Emorsgate’s 52-ha farm will provide an opportunity to discuss practical issues of sowing and managing wild seeds as habitat based mixtures.
Fee £100 / £75 concession (see booking form for more details)
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Conservation management of upland fringe Ref W8
Wednesday 7 July 1-4pm
Elan Valley, Powys
Facilitator: Phoenix Ecology in association with the Elan Valley Trust
An afternoon event led by grassland ecologist Mike Hayes focusing on issues and problems associated with managing species-rich grasslands in upland-fringe areas. The visit will be centred on a 5-ha suite of SSSI-designated herb-rich meadows at an altitude of 320m managed by the Elan Valley Trust. This site features excellent examples of traditionally-managed hay-meadows that are particularly characteristic of the upland fringe of mid Wales, due to the presence of a rare assemblage of wild flowers. The main focus of the visit will be to observe and discuss the effects of some long-term research into the effects of applying different rates of manure and lime on trial plots. This CCW/Elan Valley-funded work aims to understand how to maintain the biodiversity value of meadows while also achieving acceptable levels of hay production.
*www.phoenixecology.co.uk
Free (supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
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Grassland restoration, management and creation under High Level Stewardship (HLS) Ref SW3
Tuesday 13 July
Bath
Facilitator: Emorsgate Seeds *
Manor Farm extends to around 120 ha and consists predominantly of semi-improved, and unimproved limestone grasslands and neutral grasslands, with additional blocks of ancient woodland. A field based training day will look at the options under HLS for maintaining, restoring and creating wild grasslands, including (for maintenance) grazing, mowing, weed control, and soil fertility; grassland management, overseeding, scarification and using yellow rattle (for restoration), .ground preparation, seeding and after-care (grassland creation). Field-scale examples of these options will be seen at various stages up to 14 years after being seeded. There will also be an opportunity to see the methods used to produce crop grown wild seed and see a demonstration of brush harvesting.
For more details about Emorsgate Seeds see www.wildseed.co.uk
Fee £100 / £75 concession (see booking form for more details)
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Restoring arable wild flowers Ref E3
Lincolnshire
Facilitator: Roger Wardle, Roger Wardle Consultancy and the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marsh Project
The day is devoted
The day is devoted to the often overlooked and threatened arable wild flowers that have undergone rapid decline. Much of the time will be spent in the field looking at habitat management and identifying species. The site for the event is of national importance for scarce arable plants, made more interesting by the presence of two soil types, each marginally different and with virtually no overlap of species. The event is aimed at raising the awareness of arable plants and ways to address conservation issues on a farm with a tailored Agri-environment Scheme. It will be of interest to anyone interested in arable plants such as advisors, agronomists and farmers and links with many BAP and HLS objectives.
Fee £100 / £75 concession (see booking form for more details)
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Identifying the plants of wild meadows Ref W9
Carmarthenshire
Facilitator: Dr Richard Pryce
An introduction to the identification of wild flowers and other plants found in lowland grasslands of South Wales. This will be outdoor event concentrating on practical skills. The day is aimed at helping you to identify plants in the field, and how to be aware of indicator species and their role in monitoring the successful management and restoration of Wild meadows.
Free (supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation)
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Ponies, wildflowers and wonderful locations Ref SE4
Thursday 29 July
mid Kent
Facilitator: Frances Clayton and David Burton
This workshop will look at pony-grazing systems that maintain and restore wildlife rich habitats. Practical techniques that take into account the demands of equine management and landscape and wildlife enhancement will be covered. The workshop will review the use of volunteer pony checkers to support pony grazing on wildlife sites. We will also look at issues and solutions at an equine establishment which has developed innovative approaches to conservation grazing with ponies. The proceedings of this workshop will be disseminated through the Grazing Advice Partnership Fee £100/£75 concession
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Restoring a lowland river Ref SE5
Tuesday 7 September
IWest Berkshire
Facilitator: Sue Everett
This day will provide a basic introduction to some of the issues and challenges facing one of Britain's most important chalk rivers. Two stretches of river on grazed common land 'before' and 'after' restorative work will be visited. We will consider issues such as riverbank grazing impacts, recreational disturbance, abstraction and over-widening, impacts of artificial water bodies and consider measures that can be taken to restore the in-river and bankside habitats. Event hosted by the Trustees of the Town and Manor of Hungerford.
Fee £100 / £75 concession BOOK NOW
Grazing with carbon and wildlife in mind Ref N3
Wednesday 22 September
Ingleborough, Cumbria/North Yorkshire
Facilitator: Bill Grayson
This workshop will look at an innovative approach for grazing high environmental value land which takes account of the positive contribution grazing animals can make to climate change mitigation. The system involves the use of winter foggage to rear traditional single sucker beef animals while maintaining herb rich limestone grassland. The workshop will be of particular interest to hill farmers entering the High Level Scheme agreements and their advisers. There will be a site visit to Ingleborough National Nature Reserve followed by an indoor session, covering the principles of this approach and how it can be applied on hill farms with extensive cattle enterprises. The proceedings of this workshop will be disseminated through the Grazing Advice Partnership Fee £100 / £75 concession
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Pigs for land management Ref M2
Wednesday 6 October, 10.30am – 3.30pm
Bewdley, Worcestershire
Facilitator: Mark Cleaver, Grazing Advice Partnership
Pigs can be very effective managers of bracken and other undesirable vegetation. This participative workshop will look at pigs in action and will touch on the wide ranging set of land management initiatives that are being developed to maintain and restore traditional landscapes in the Wyre Forest. We will also hear from some leading practitioners about pig projects on land of high environmental value across Britain. There will be a short session to discuss and identify key issues and solutions concerning the use of pigs for land management. The proceedings of this workshop will be disseminated through the Grazing Advice Partnership
Fee £100 / £75 concession (see booking form for more details) BOOK NOW
Community farming and landscape restoration Ref SW6
Wednesday 10 November
Salisbury, Wiltshire
Facilitator: David Burton
This workshop will take a look at the recent history of community farming in southern England and review the key challenges and possible solutions for community farming in both rural and urban situations. The day will involve a field visit to view chalk stream, water meadow and chalk downland habitats in and around River Bourne Community Farm* that are being managed with the help of community supported agriculture. Delegates will have an opportunity to share their own experiences during a facilitated discussion session.
*www.riverbournecommunityfarm.org.uk
Fee £100 / £75 concession (see booking form for more details)
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