University of Oxford Zoology Department
Recreation of the Somerford Mead flood meadow – better known to FAI as Alison’s Meadow -- started in 1986. It reaches maturity this year with the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the project.
The meadow can be viewed from the River Thames and the adjacent footpath. It is an old field about 2km upstream from the ancient flood-meadow of Oxey Mead and, before the end of the 1950s was itself an ancient flood-meadow. From 1960 to 1982 it was treated with artificial fertilisers and used as commercial grassland for haymaking or silage, and many of the traditional plant species died out. From 1982 – 1984 it was ploughed and barley crops were grown with agro-chemicals. In 1985 another barley crop was grown without chemicals and a seed bank study conducted.
It was re-sown with seeds from Oxey Mead in 1986 and has been enhanced by natural colonisation of species not necessarily belonging to the original plant community. Its rich diversity of grass and herb species - including cowslips - flower and usually set seed before haymaking at the end of June. The tradition of grassland management in Oxford is to graze the aftermath with cattle from August to November and with sheep from November to February, floods permitting. Work continues in Alison’s Meadow to evaluate, by botanical analysis, the effects of aftermath cattle-grazing, sheep-grazing and no grazing on the plant community.
The Ashmolean Natural History Society of Oxfordshire is conducting a series of workshops on June 16, 23 and 30 with talks, discussions and visits to ancient and restored Thames Valley meadows. If you would like more information about the workshops or would like to book a place, please e-mail Camilla Lambrick on Camilla@lambrick.fsnet.co.uk.