More Meadows

The community group, Moor Meadows has announced it will be helping to support the formation of regional groups of meadow makers around Devon. Funding from the Devon Environment Foundation has been secured to support the creation of regional More Meadows groups to link like-minded people and support meadow creation, restoration and celebration.

Moor Meadows was established on Dartmoor five years ago and has grown to a group with over 800 members who manage nearly 1000 acres of meadows on Dartmoor alone. It is well known for its successful community-based approach to supporting its members and can now help replicate this in other areas

The South Devon National Landscape has some amazing meadows and species-rich grassland and many folks working hard for nature. A South Devon More Meadows group will enable local meadows enthusiasts to connect, run practical training sessions such as scything and plant ID, hold open meadow days and informative talks for their community, all with the support of the More Meadow network.

A new Meadow Makers online forum will provide a communications and knowledge hub for new groups, creating a thriving online community connecting all meadow groups across Devon. In addition, a series of informative and inspiring online talks are coming soon for anyone to join.

More information:

[email protected]

moormeadows.org.uk

Getting help: Orchard Link

Orchard Link was set up in 1998 by a group of orchard owners, cider makers and fruit enthusiasts, all determined to reverse the decline in traditional South Devon orchards.

The organisation offers technical advice and support to members and training courses in tree pruning, grafting, cider making and the planning and planting of new orchards. The less experienced can also learn from those with more knowledge at Orchard Link’s regular open meetings.

If orchards are to be properly maintained, there needs to be a value to their harvest. Orchard Link hires out presses (of different sizes), mills and pasteurisers to members for use at harvest time. In addition, it puts cider and juice makers in touch with those with surplus fruit, and vice versa.

Orchard Link produces an informative newsletter three times a year and organizes events such as orchard visits, cider and juice tastings and presentations by experts. There is also plenty of opportunity to ‘talk apples’ at its Annual Gathering. Membership is £12 a year. Visit the Orchard Link website.

Devon Apples also has a useful website listing local varieties of apples and fruit.

A taste of something special

Apple juice and cider makers are still at work in South Devon. Heron Valley near Loddiswell, Real Drink Ltd at Stoke Gabriel and Ashridge Cider near Modbury are just three examples, bottling the flavours of our local orchards and bringing them to you.

More information about local food and drink producers can be found on the Love the Flavour website of Food and Drink Devon.

Orchards to visit

A number of small community orchards are open to the public to visit at any time. These include Stoke Gabriel and Holbeton. Stoke Gabriel holds a traditional orchard wassail event every year in early January.