In 2023, FMP set out to grow our understanding of floodplain meadows in Wales, strengthen connections with people working in these landscapes, and expand our advocacy work. It’s been a busy 18 months!
Building Connections
During autumn/winter 2023–24, we ran a series of 15 webinars introducing FMP and sharing our research on the value of floodplain meadows for both nature conservation and ecosystem services. These sessions helped us form new links with existing projects on the Usk, Wye, Tywi, Teifi, Ely, and Thaw, as well as several promising new relationships we hope will develop into future restoration projects.
Expanding Knowledge
In 2024, we visited 18 floodplain sites across Wales to collect data and meet landowners interested in floodplain meadow restoration. We found a huge appetite for learning and action, and we’re now preparing tailored reports for each landowner to guide their next steps.
We also commissioned historic research into Welsh floodplain meadows. Historic consultants Fjordr mapped and recorded historic examples along the Dee, Usk, and Teifi, testing the method they have previously used in England. Excitingly, they found historic meadows in the upper, mid, and lower catchments of all three rivers. A more detailed search along the upper Wye—between the Afon Tarennig and Llanfaredd—revealed an impressive 82 historic meadows!
In Carmarthenshire, we modelled the restoration potential for floodplain meadow plant communities—work we hope will highlight opportunities and inform local decision-making.
Advocacy
We responded to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) consultation including providing evidence to the Welsh Government’s Carbon Sequestration Evidence Review Panel on the importance of floodplain soils and species-rich grasslands for carbon storage and sequestration. The Panel concluded that "habitat creation or restoration could therefore be considered an additional carbon sequestration action and should be supported through the Optional Action layer, with a particular focus on grassland habitat restoration and creation". We continue to work closely with NRW to explore how floodplain meadows could be integrated into the SFS.
Together with NRW, we also developed a strategic summary of current floodplain meadow knowledge in Wales to help inform and target future restoration efforts.
In August 2024, we were featured on BBC Radio’s Country Focus, helping raise awareness of floodplain meadows as a sustainable farming system delivering multiple ecosystem services. We also created training resources for Farming Connect to promote meadow restoration and management as an option for farmers and land managers.
Although the current phase of the project ends in July, we’re excited to keep working in Wales and build on the strong foundations laid over the past 18 months.
