Wildflower meadows talk by world renowned expert

George Peterken, the world renowned meadows expert, is returning to Dartmoor for a celebration of wildflower meadows.

Wildflower meadows - bees love them, butterflies love them, people love them. Nothing sums up summer like the experience of walking through a species-rich meadow, carpeted with flowers and alive with insects.

Yet across the country, wildflower meadows have all but disappeared – 97 per cent of them have gone since the second world war. And Dartmoor is no different. Fortunately, there are still some wonderful survivors.

At Chagford on the 29 April, George will introduce the subject, talk about the history of meadows, their cultural value and speak about the community meadows project he is involved with. The second key speaker will be Dartmoor based John Walters. John has consulted on many natural history television and radio programmes and his talk will be on the wildlife that thrives in flower-rich grasslands. There will also be a short practical introduction on how to create and manage your own meadow by a Dartmoor meadow owner.

The evening is being organised by a small friendly group of local people, who are part of a recently formed 'Moor Meadows' community initiative, whose aim is to help each other in conserving, restoring and creating flower rich grasslands in the landscape of Dartmoor. Last June, several Dartmoor meadow owners opened their doors for the day for others to enjoy. This year there will be even more meadows to visit.

If you have a pasture you would like to restore to a flowering meadow, or a patch of lawn you'd like to see come alive with flowers and insects, or simply an interest in plants and wildlife, then come to Chagford's Jubilee Hall on the evening of April 29 to discover more.

Jubilee Hall can be found just beside the Car Park, overlooking the church. It will start at 7.30pm and finish by 9.30pm.

The event is free and refreshments will be available. As seats are limited, please reserve your place now by emailing donnacox@puna.co.uk