The Big Devon Meadows Count 2025 – registration deadline to take part 30th May!

 

What is The Big Devon Meadows Count?

This project is a collaboration between Moor Meadows and the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, with The Devon Environment Foundation contributing funding.

Grassland is a dominant land use in the UK, covering around 40% of the country. However, the vast majority is intensively managed for agriculture, with only a small fraction remaining as species-rich or unimproved semi-natural grassland. Species-rich grassland, which supports the highest biodiversity, makes up only 1% of the UK land area.

The Moor Meadows community is helping to bring them back.

Together we have already restored and created 2,700 acres of meadows, as seen on our Meadows Map. However, the plants present in these meadows remain under-recorded – both in Devon and nationally. It is important that we learn what we have in Devon, where, and in what quantities.

This project focuses on identifying the wildflower species in our meadows. We’ll help you discover what’s growing in yours and make the process fun and rewarding.

Why Your Contribution Matters

Meadows and their species are under-recorded across the UK. Your survey results will help build a high-quality biodiversity database for Devon, managed by the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre (DBRC). By participating, you’ll be part of a collective effort to record and celebrate these vital habitats. The project results are uploaded to the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre’s database, which covers the whole of Devon. Their team will analyse the data to gain valuable big-picture insights across the county.

Last year’s pilot project had remarkable findings – several participants discovered their meadows were so wildflower diverse that they qualified for County Wildlife Site designation – the equivalent of a gold medal for land management!

Could your meadow be the next hidden gem?