MINSTERLEY MEADOWS SUCCESS!
Following a 10-month campaign by local people and nature conservationists, Middle Marches Community Land Trust and Marches Meadow Group are delighted to announce that Minsterley Meadows have been purchased.
Thanks are due to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, 367 donors, Morris & Co ,100+ supporters and a hard-working group of volunteers on the Steering Group.
Minsterley Meadows and their importance
Minsterley Meadows are nationally important and are amongst the best flowery grasslands in Shropshire. They support over 5,000 Green-winged orchids, a species which has severely declined over the last 100 years. More than 90% of Shropshire’s Green-winged orchids are now in these two hay meadows.
Fundraising for the Meadows
Over £155 000 has been raised through donations from local people and organisations, and a £10,000 grant from Defra was facilitated by Shropshire Hills National Landscapes staff. Thanks to National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund have awarded a grant of £224,000 which covers a contribution to the purchase of the meadows, the ongoing work to manage them, and funds to support local people to care for them and engage with young people to learn about them. This includes a local art project, activities and events as well as working closely with local primary and secondary schools
Who will own and manage the Meadows?
The meadows will be owned by the Middle Marches Community Land Trust, a local community-led Trust dedicated to helping to create an ecologically healthy and sustainable countryside. The Marches Meadow Group will help manage and look after the meadows.
Thanks for your support so far!
Minsterley Meadows appeal has had a fantastic response from the public in Minsterley, Pontesbury and wider and is supported by partners, Marches Meadow Group with support from CPRE Shropshire, Caring for Gods Acre, Restoring Shropshire’s Verges Project, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Mary Webb Society, Minsterley Parish Council, The Hardy Orchid Society, Friends of Pontesford Hill, National Trust Stepping Stones project, Shropshire Hills National Landscape, Shropshire Botanical Society and other local groups.
We are delighted to announce the purchase of Minsterley Meadows and in being able to secure the future of such an important wildlife site well loved by local people. Our thanks to all the many people who have contributed to the Appeal in different ways and especially to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, and to our dedicated group of local supporters
Richard Keymer, Chair of Middle Marches Community Land Trust
The Parish of Minsterley greatly appreciates all those who have secured the purchase of Minsterley Meadows saving it for future generations. A great effort has been made by all those who have made donations and also by everyone connected with the Middle Marches Community Land Trust. We thank you all.
Geoff Rogers, Chair, Minsterley Parish Council
Worthen with Shelve Parish Council is always extremely happy to support local environmental projects; the Minsterley Meadows Appeal instantly leapt out to us as vitally important to the preservation of a critical community asset loved by all, and we were glad to be able to help in any way we could
Richard Tongue, Chair, Worthen with Shelve Parish Council
This is a fantastic achievement to protect a rare example of an old hay meadow full of flowers and other important wildlife including fungi. Such places are arks of wildlife from where we hope to collect seed and material to spread into new meadows that our members are creating or restoring. Thanks to all the volunteers and donors and thanks to the Heritage Fund for supporting this appeal
Peter Carty, Chair of Marches Meadow Group
Would you like to find out more?
To be kept informed of our progress join the Middle Marches Community Land Trust mailing list – see button below.