We were a full house for the autumn meeting, with near 60 of us packed into the Mac and out of the hail and thunder (contrary to rumours circulating, the committee deny all responsibility for the apocalyptic weather so often accompanying our mini-symposiums… it does boost attendance though).
Ursula Williams began proceedings, describing how she and Jean Green have turned their respective wildflower meadows into a valuable educational resource for the pupils of St Briavels Playgroup and School; and Play Leader Jo George was on hand to explain both how the children themselves benefit and how this Forest School initiative helps raise a new generation of caretakers for our grasslands – an inspiring start.
Next, Ann Harris examined in lively fashion the pros and cons of conservation grazing with horses, drawing on independent research and her own experience as a smallholder – all useful knowledge for us field-owners. Deborah Flint of Cinderhill Farm kept us laughing as she outlined the challenges of making a living from your land – hers is a galvanising success story though perhaps its most memorable message is you’ll never be unhappy in the company of a duck. That’s Christmas sorted then.
There was just time for George Peterken to highlight how different management styles over the years have affected the fauna we see in our fields – offering us the intriguing proposition that the bilberries peeking out beneath our hedges might be among our oldest neighbours – before PGP chairman Mike Topp declared Our Fields well and truly launched and sent us off into the tea break. Part two provided food for thought as Helen Axe explored the principles of Forest Gardening, a sustainable method of expanding the range of edible plants we grow, from exotic Szechuan pepper to the dreaded ground elder – gardeners in the audience blossomed visibly at the idea of eating their enemy. Then Chris Parsons of Dean Meadows Group shared in entertaining style his recipe for composting field-grass – an enticing concept for those of us tired of haymaking in the rain.
The afternoon ended with a discussion between George Peterken, Chris Parsons, Stephanie Tyler of Monmouthshire Meadows Group and Andrew Nixon of Wye Valley AONB, giving us a chance to debate just what role the PGP might play in grassland preservation in the future. Thank you to all who took part.
Finally, the committee took the opportunity to express their gratitude to Tony Eggar for all his hard work, particularly in the production of Our Fields and other publications, and to present him with a specially commissioned shepherd’s crook. We will miss him and Jane hugely when they move to Somerset.