Introduction to the Floodplain Meadows Partnership: Emma Rothero
Introduction to the Floodplain Meadows Partnership: Emma Rothero
Introduction to the Floodplain Meadows Partnership: Emma Rothero
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<strong>Emma</strong> Ro<strong>the</strong>ro<br />
<strong>Floodplain</strong> <strong>Meadows</strong> <strong>Partnership</strong><br />
(Outreach) Co-Ordina<strong>to</strong>r
Steering Group
What are floodplain meadows<br />
Species rich grasslands in lowland river floodplains that have a hay cut.<br />
Meadow foxtail – Great burnet grassland (Alopecurus pratensis – Sanguisorba officinalis)<br />
Often designated as SSSI<br />
Five in UK are Special Area Conservation incl. Oxford Meads<br />
Mike Dodd Open University
What are floodplain meadows<br />
• Species rich grasslands arisen as a result<br />
of traditional agricultural management,<br />
driven by <strong>the</strong> need for a high quality hay<br />
crop often over hundreds of years.<br />
• <strong>Meadows</strong> divided in<strong>to</strong> strips and hay crop<br />
shared.<br />
• Aftermath grazing often (not always)<br />
communal with cattle, sheep and horses<br />
From at least <strong>the</strong> 9 th century, <strong>the</strong> meads were divided in<strong>to</strong><br />
unenclosed strips (Hey G. 2004).
Alison McDonald<br />
Alison McDonald
Where are floodplain meadows<br />
Most important sites<br />
Lower Derwent Valley<br />
North Meadow and<br />
Clattinger Farm<br />
Portholme Meadow<br />
Oxford Meads<br />
Mottey <strong>Meadows</strong><br />
190 ha<br />
104.7 ha<br />
104 ha<br />
85.6 ha<br />
44.6 ha<br />
Less than 1500 ha
<strong>Partnership</strong> Objectives<br />
•Moni<strong>to</strong>r five floodplain<br />
meadow sites (SAC sites)<br />
•Moni<strong>to</strong>r five floodplain<br />
meadow res<strong>to</strong>ration schemes<br />
•Establish a network of<br />
floodplain meadow specialists<br />
•Develop outreach activities<br />
and workshops<br />
•Development of knowledge<br />
about related habitats (e.g.<br />
water meadow and fen<br />
meadow community).<br />
Mike Dodd Open University
Moni<strong>to</strong>ring and research<br />
Understanding <strong>the</strong> impacts of different fac<strong>to</strong>rs on<br />
floodplain meadow plant communities<br />
• Botanical survey<br />
• Soil water levels<br />
• Soil nutrients<br />
• Hay nutrients<br />
• Flood sediments<br />
• Site management data (MEADOW WATCH)<br />
• River level and rain fall data<br />
All pho<strong>to</strong>s Mike Dodd Open University
<strong>Floodplain</strong> <strong>Meadows</strong> Database<br />
159 sites on list…more likely.<br />
Data collected from 68 sites<br />
• Botanical: 17000 quadrats<br />
• Hydrological: 2 million individual records<br />
• Hydrological modelling: 15 sites<br />
• Nutrients: 13<br />
• Visited: 99<br />
Survey<br />
2009 - 20 sites, 1544 quadrats<br />
2010 - 17 sites, 1850 quadrats<br />
2011 - 16 sites. 1368 quadrats<br />
Sites surveyed 2010<br />
North Meadow and Clattinger<br />
Farm, SAC, NNR*<br />
Derwent Ings* SAC/NNR (East<br />
Cottingwith and Wheldrake)<br />
Mottey <strong>Meadows</strong> NNR, SAC*<br />
Oxford <strong>Meadows</strong> SAC*<br />
Portholme SAC<br />
Mill Crook SSSI<br />
Oxley Mead SSSI<br />
Fancott <strong>Meadows</strong> SSSI*<br />
Duckling<strong>to</strong>n SSSI<br />
West Sedgemoor SSSI<br />
Clif<strong>to</strong>n Ings and Rawcliffe<br />
<strong>Meadows</strong>*<br />
Co-Op fields, res<strong>to</strong>ration site*<br />
Peak District sites (3 small areas)<br />
County<br />
Wilts<br />
Yorks<br />
Staffs<br />
Oxon<br />
Cambs<br />
Northants<br />
Bucks<br />
Beds<br />
Oxon<br />
Somerset<br />
Yorks<br />
Wilts<br />
Derbyshire<br />
* FMP involved with SAC res<strong>to</strong>ration plans
PhD Students<br />
• Availability of soil nutrients as a determinant<br />
of plant community composition (Ka<strong>the</strong>rine<br />
Wo<strong>the</strong>rspoon)<br />
• The impact of different assessment criteria<br />
on floodplain meadows (Jim McGinlay)<br />
• Control of an aggressive plant species<br />
through cutting regime on floodplain<br />
meadows (Sonia Newman)<br />
• The re-assembly of species-rich plant<br />
communities following perturbation (Fiona<br />
Cameron).<br />
• The non-chemical control of marsh ragwort<br />
(Ellie Sargent)
<strong>Floodplain</strong> Meadow Res<strong>to</strong>ration<br />
•Where Is it working Has it been moni<strong>to</strong>red<br />
•FMP moni<strong>to</strong>ring of some sites<br />
•A res<strong>to</strong>ration demonstration site (North Meadow)<br />
•Information exchange, guidance notes, case<br />
studies<br />
•Can individuals with experience of <strong>the</strong> process<br />
directly help o<strong>the</strong>rs nearby<br />
Arnaud Duranel
Outreach activities<br />
To try and communicate findings <strong>to</strong> relevant groups AND get<br />
feedback on direction of research and useful <strong>to</strong>ols<br />
• www.floodplainmeadows.org.uk<br />
• Professional and public workshops<br />
• Newsletter (twice a year)<br />
• Useful <strong>to</strong>ols<br />
• Leaflets/brochures<br />
• Conference (one every 3 years)<br />
• Site visits/advice<br />
• Guided walks/hay festivals/open days<br />
• Publicity/media (podcasts!)<br />
• Fritillary counting (volunteers)
The Team and Funding<br />
Project Staff<br />
Project Direc<strong>to</strong>r - Prof. David Gowing.<br />
Esmee Fairburn Foundation and The 29 th May 1961 Charitable Trust<br />
Co-Ordina<strong>to</strong>r posts:<br />
Research Co-ordina<strong>to</strong>r - Hilary Wallace and Dr. Irina Tatarenko<br />
Outreach Co-ordina<strong>to</strong>r - <strong>Emma</strong> Ro<strong>the</strong>ro<br />
PhD students<br />
Ellie Sargent, Sonia Newman, Ka<strong>the</strong>rine Wo<strong>the</strong>rspoon, Jim McGinlay, Fiona<br />
Cameron<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r funding<br />
• Garfield Wes<strong>to</strong>n Foundation-supported survey works (2006)<br />
• Light Owler Trust contributions from 2008-2011<br />
• ALSF funded modelling and capital work, Wiltshire 2008 and 2009<br />
• O<strong>the</strong>r specific projects Environment Agency, Natural England, Gravel<br />
Companies, Development companies, Wildlife Trusts, RSPB<br />
• Funding gap for survey and outreach over 6 years<br />
Mike Dodd Open University
Contact<br />
e.c.ro<strong>the</strong>ro@open.ac.uk<br />
01908 655645<br />
07941 486260<br />
www.floodplainmeadows.org.uk<br />
Rob Wolstenholme, NE
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