The Marches Meadow Group (MMG) was founded in 2015 by local residents with an interest in conserving meadows and other species rich grasslands in south-west and neighbouring parts of . Funding for hay-making equipment was provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund via the Stiperstones and Country Landscape Partnership Scheme and MMG provides a hay making service for its members.

Events Programme 2019

Membership of the Marches Meadow Group (MMG) offers the following benefits:  A survey of the plants of your meadow(s)  Advice on the management of your meadow(s), including livestock  Access to the small-scale hay making machinery owned by the MMG  Help from other members of MMG (in return for your help!)  Opportunity to enhance the diversity of your meadows through green hay or seed collection  Co-ordination of green hay donor and recipient sites  Access to markets for hay meadow products – buying or selling  Site visits to other meadow managers’ meadows  Social occasions – meet with other meadow managers

For general enquiries please telephone 01743 791476 or e-mail [email protected] www.marchesmeadowgroup.com Scythe Peening Workshop Moths and Meadows Mix, Pennerley Sunday 7th April 10.30am Sunday 7th July 10.30am - 1pm Maintain your scythe blades and ensure that they can be sharpened to a keen edge. Discovering the moths associated with meadows on the recently created meadows at Guidance by Simon Cooter. Pennerley House. Natural Office, Pennerley. Grid Ref: SO 357 985 Limited parking (but The Bog car park nearby). Grid Ref: SO 355 987

Visit to Mottey Meadows, Staffordshire Sunday 28th April 2pm - 4.30pm Scything Week A chance to see snake’s-head fritillaries in flower at Mottey Meadows NNR near Telford. Sunday 14th - Friday 19th July 10am start Afternoon walk (2hr) led by the site manager, Paul Shires. Wellies advisable! Scything Course (Sunday 14th July; £50 or £45 for MMG members), Minibus available (anticipated cost £12.50 pp to cover fuel; pick-ups at The Bog car park ‘scything with a view’ sessions (Monday 15th - Thursday 18th July), (12.45pm) and Minsterley Village Hall car park (1.00pm). scything competition and BBQ (Friday 19th July).

Booking essential: contact Richard Small on 01743 791476 for further details. Contact Simon Cooter, 01743 792294. If making your own way, park on roadside near St Mary’s CE First School in Wheaton Natural England Office, Pennerley. Grid Ref: SO 357 985 Aston ST19 9PQ but please car-share if possible and confirm attendance with Richard Small on 01743 791476 Meadow Owners’ Question Time Tuesday 8th October 7.30pm - 10pm Annual General Meeting Tea, coffee and cakes (or bring your own favourite tipple). Tuesday 7th May 7.30pm Natural England Office, Pennerley. Grid Ref: SO 357 985 Annual reports and short talks by members about their meadows, experience of MMG etc. Inn on the Green, Wentnor SY9 5EF. Grid Ref: SO 381 932 Talk by Suzanne Noble ‘Growing Native Orchids in Meadows and Gardens’ Offers of short (15min) talks welcome. Wednesday 13th November 7.30pm - 10pm Suzanne Noble has been growing British orchids since 2013 - see her website Visit to Hurdley Hall www.britishorchids.co.uk . Suzanne will explain how she propagates orchids and will have some plants for sale. Admission £3 for non-members. Wednesday 15th May 10.30am - 1pm Church Barn, Church Lane, Bishop’s Castle SY9 5FD Joint event with CWG Plant Groups, looking at early grasses and woodland plants. Meet at Roundton Nature Reserve car park near Old Churchstoke. Grid ref: SO 292 946

Wildflower Verges, Prolley Moor Wednesday 22nd May 10.30am - 1.30pm Joint event with CWG Plant Groups, discovering the plants to be found in roadside verges and monitoring the progress of last year’s verge management. Meet in Wentnor by the church. Grid Ref: SO 383 927

Meadows and Grassland, Stapeley Monday 10th June 10.30am - 2.30pm Exploring some of the flower-rich grasslands in the area. Meet at the White Grit Tin Church, parking on roadside corner. Grid Ref: SO 314 980 For queries about any of these events contact Richard Small on 01743 791476 or [email protected]