Water meadows - Soil, Water, and Catchment Management
Soil, Water and Catchment Management
Title
Water meadows
A water meadow is a man-made pasture irrigation system operated at the discretion of the farmer. The original aim was either to increase total grass production, or bring it forward in time during the agricultural year. There were several benefits of using water meadows, but primarily, by irrigating the meadows over winter and in spring, an increased soil temperature was maintained above the surrounding land. This initiated earlier grass growth, allowing earlier grazing and feeding.
More commonly associated with the chalk streams of Wessex, the later 19th Century water meadows of the East Midlands, and especially Nottinghamshire, have received little attention. However, these were large, complex systems, built by the Ducal Estates along suitable river valleys.
SWCM has been researching the East Midlands water meadows, and especially those in the Maun, Meden and Poulter Valleys. The intention is to improve understanding of these complex systems, but also to evaluate 21st century environmental services.
Provisioning services include improving river water quality in storms by filtering out silt and phosphorus which can then be used by the growing grass crop. During a spring storm, SWCM recorded a reduction in turbidity from 50 NTU in water from the River Poulter, to zero in water running off the meadow.
Restored areas can also provide valuable wet grassland habitat for ground-nesting birds and a sustainable agricultural system. In a catchment suffering from poor aquifer recharge, it may also be possible to increase local infiltration as 'artificial recharge areas'.
To date, two areas of water meadows have been partially restored; at Carburton (2008) with a grant from Nottinghamshire County Council and at Norton (2015), with funding from the Environment Agency.
References
Hillman, J. & Cook, H. (2016) ‘By Floating and Water Such Land as Leith Capable Thereof’: Recovering Meadow Irrigation in Nottinghamshire. Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire, Vol 120 pp75-93
Hillman, J., Lambert, S., Dunning, B. & Bower, R. (2011) Assessing the past for the future: a case study of Nottinghamshire's forgotten water meadows. Proceedings of the 12th River Restoration Centre National Conference
Hillman, J. (2009) Water Meadows in the Nottinghamshire Landscape. Presentation at the Sherwood Habitats Forum, 26 November 2009.
