White Grit Meadows Appeal

**NB** If you wish to donate more than £500, please consider paying via BACS or cheque, since the processing fees on this platform will be large. Email us for information. Thank you!**

Help us acquire five acres of botanically rich meadow at the foot of Corndon Hill, where plants such as Heath Spotted Orchid, Dyers Greenweed and Devil’s Bit Scabious abound.

The area we wish to buy consists of 4 small fields totalling 5 acres, bounded by tall, thick hedgerows, with some small stands of Alder and Goat Willow trees.

Where are White Grit Meadows?

The site is situated at the foot of Corndon Hill just inside Wales at an altitude of 1000 feet (300 metres) in the hamlet of White Grit (see map).

White Grit is a small, quiet, scattered village directly on the border with Shropshire. The nearby village of Priest Weston, despite being in England, actually lies to the west of White Grit. To the east is the A488 road, and the nearest town is Bishop’s Castle.

The mining community which thrived here in the 19th century gave rise to this area of smallholdings and a series of species-rich meadows, some of which remain today. They form the White Grit SSSI which has several owners.

Why are the meadows important?

White Grit Meadows are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest SSSI for their rich botanical interest (more information on the designation here).

Amongst many other species, the meadows support a rich variety of wild flowers (full plant list here).

What are the meadows like?

On a summer’s day, the site has a timeless feel about it as you wander from one small room-like field to another, all alive with bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Large, billowing hedgerows edge the fields.

Each year it is grazed in late summer for a few weeks by a small number of cattle.

The site has been looked after by the present owners for 23 years, but they now need to relinquish their ownership, and have kindly offered the meadows to MMCLT to purchase.

Who would own the Meadows?

The meadows would 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. 

How much does the Appeal need to raise?

We need to raise £45,000 to pay for the land purchase and associated fees.

Middle Marches Community Land Trust will reclaim Gift Aid for donations where donors kindly agree  to this.

Any excess funds raised by the Appeal will be retained by Middle Marches Community Land Trust and used to support our work.

How can I help?

You can help by donating to the White Grit Meadows Appeal here.

or sending a donation by post to: Middle Marches Community Land Trust, Enterprise House, Bishops Castle SY9 5AQ

(Please make cheques out to ‘Middle Marches Community Land Trust’.

Or contact us via email for further information info@middlemarchescommunitylandtrust.org.uk

Art exhibition in aid of the White Grit Meadows Appeal

The Middle Marches Community Land Trust are delighted to be organising an art exhibition by the Marches Artists for Nature between 2nd and 4th October 2025 at the Stars, Bishops Castle, proceeds from which will help raise funds for the Appeal. Please come and support us!  More information here:

(Photos: Ken Dowley, Lucy Gaze, Rob Rowe & Sarah Jameson)