Dorset Wildlife Trust is pleased to announce that Lady’s Mead Meadow in Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve has been chosen to showcase Dorset’s meadows and celebrate the 60thanniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
The Coronation Meadows event falls on Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Meadow Wildlife Weekend on the 15th and 16th June, where we are inviting people to come and re-discover the stunning flora and fauna which can be found in our beautiful meadows.
HRH the Prince of Wales put forward the idea of Coronation Meadows in 2012 following concerns that traditional meadows have been disappearing over the last 70 years. The project aims to identify flower-rich meadows in the UK, such as Lady’s Mead, and use wildflower seeds to restore 60 new meadows and secure the UK’s wildflower heritage for the next 60 years.
Debbie Watkins, West Dorset Living Landscapes Manager for Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “Our traditional wildflower meadows are not just the pretty faces of our countryside. They are vital resources for our future. Not only do they support diverse and interesting communities of rare and uncommon plants, they are food sources for our bees, insects, a habitat for our birds, butterflies and small mammals and provide the stepping stones for wildlife to reach out into our farmland, community spaces and gardens.”
Lady’s Mead meadow at Kingcombe nature reserve © Steve Davis
On Saturday 15th June the Kingcombe Centre will be open for refreshments and light lunches in the Conservatory Cafe, with an exhibition and celebration of our most beautiful meadows in Dorset.
On Sunday 16th June, the Kingcombe Centre has a fun packed day lined up for everyone to enjoy the meadows which surround the reserve. After a plant folklore guided walk, celebrate Father’s day with a roast dinner in our Conservatory Cafe and then take a tour of Lady’s Mead for yourself, guided by one of our conservation experts.
Alternatively, the stunning Lorton Meadows nature reserve in Weymouth will be holding an open day on Saturday 15th June – The wildlife centre will be open all day, and we have a wildflower walk through the stunning meadows at Lorton starting at 2pm.
The Coronation Meadows event will be launched at Highgrove in Gloucestershire on 5th June in the private gardens of HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, which has a meadow with over 30 different varieties of native plants. Chairman of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, Nigel Webb, will be attending this exciting event. He said: “We are delighted that one of our most spectacular meadows has been chosen as a flagship meadow for Dorset. This is a fantastic project to remind us all of the importance of meadows in the UK, and help us to create a legacy for future generations to come.”
These events at the Kingcombe Centre, Tollor Pocorum, Dorset (DT2 0EQ) are suitable for all the family. On 16th June the guided plant folklore walk starts at 10.00am. The father’s day lunch, 2 or 3 course Sunday roast is from 12.30pm – 2.00pm, Prices start from £10.55 per head and booking is essential. Lady’s Mead guided walk starts at 3.00pm. For more information please contact 01300 321409.
Events at Lorton Meadows, Weymouth, Dorset (DT3 5QH) are suitable for all the family. On 15th June the Open Day is free, starting at 10am – 4pm. The Wildflower walk is £1 per person starting at 2pm-4pm. No unaccompanied children. For more information please contact 01305 816546.
