Somerset Wildlife Trust is delighted to receive £2500 from the Mendip Hills AONB Unit to support their conservation work as part of the Save Our Magnificent Meadows project, which is the UK's largest partnership project transforming the fortunes of our vanishing wildflower meadows, grasslands and wildlife.
Save Our Magnificent Meadows project is led by Plantlife, the partnership is made up of 11 organisations, including Somerset Wildlife Trust and is primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. However, other sources of funding are needed to secure the lottery support, which is why the money from the Mendip Hills AONB Unit is so vital.
Jim Hardcastle, Mendip Hills AONB Unit Manager, says “The steep south-facing slopes of flower rich limestone grasslands are one of the special qualities of Mendip. The Somerset Wildlife Trust play a very important part in creating the special look and feel of the area by looking after the grasslands.”
Pippa Rayner, Somerset Wildlife Trust’s Community Engagement Officer, says “we are so pleased to have this support from the AONB Unit. Nationally, we have lost over 97% of our wildflower grasslands since the 1940s, so we are very lucky in the Mendip Hills to still have many areas of this precious habitat to enjoy. Through the project we are able to work both on our nature reserves and with farmers, communities and other landowners to conserve the species-rich grasslands that remain, as well as restoring wildflowers to areas that can help to link these up. We also create opportunities for everyone to experience the colours, sounds and sheer joy of standing in a meadow full of wildflowers and wildlife. We could not do this without the support of funders such as the Mendip Hills AONB unit.”
To find out more you can visit www.magnificentmeadows.org.uk or for information on what is happening in Somerset, as well as how you can get involved or support the project, please visit www.somersetwildlife.org
   
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