The Meadow-Makers’ Conference 2025

The Meadow Makers’ Conference is a celebration of 10 years of Moor Meadows and brings together landowners, farmers and gardeners for a day of expert talks, inspiring ideas, and practical advice – all within the wider context of nature recovery.

Whether you’re already managing a meadow or are looking to turn a field into species-rich grassland, or want to make your garden more wildlife friendly, this event is for you. The day explores how to increase biodiversity in meadows and also how to introduce other important habitats – such as wood pasture, ponds and scrub – as part of a wider approach to land restoration.

Book your place here

Photo: Wendy Searle. Brimpts Farm hay meadow

The speakers:

• Tony Juniper CBE, our keynote speaker and Chair of Natural England, on the national picture of nature recovery. Tony is a leading environmentalist with over 40 years’ experience defending nature. He has led major organisations, advised global leaders, and written acclaimed books including What Has Nature Ever Done for Us? Formerly Executive Director at Friends of the Earth and WWF-UK, he now chairs Natural England and Cool Earth. He is also a Fellow at the University of Cambridge and a prominent media contributor on environmental issues.

• Clare Pinches, Principal Scientific Analyst at Natural England, on enhancing grassland and introducing other priority habitats like scrub and wood pasture.

• Miles King, conservationist and writer, on the ecological richness of meadows. Miles King has worked in conservation for nearly 40 years, leading the conservation work at a number of charities, as well running his own consultancy, and for the last 10 years leading People Need Nature. He has written many reports, several books, worked in journalism and blogged from 2010 to 2021

• Laura Larkin, Senior Conservation Officer at Buglife, on wildlife-friendly gardening and creating mini meadows. Laura has worked in nature conservation for over a decade, with much of that time spent at Buglife. She has focused on helping people understand how to support pollinating insects in their gardens and local green spaces, and has contributed to numerous invertebrate species recovery projects across the South West.

• John Walters, Devon-based naturalist, on the importance of meadows for swifts. John Walters is an artist, ecologist, public speaker and author. He has written and illustrated several books, including The Wildlife of Dartmoor. A ground beetle expert, he works as a consultant entomologist on TV and radio, including The One Show. He also contributed to David Attenborough’s Wild Isles series.

• Plus a talk on managing grasslands for butterflies and moths (speaker to be confirmed)

Mary in her species-rich meadow at Buckland-in-the Moor

Also featuring:
• Meadow Makers’ Question Time – ask the experts your burning questions
• Guided wildflower ID
• Walks to local meadows, including Padley Common, a community meadow, and the ancient Chagford churchyard meadow

Photo: Andrew Montgomery, Dartmoor hay meadow

The Venue
Jubilee Hall, Chagford, TQ13 8DP
Chagford is a beautiful, historic market town on Dartmoor. The hall is in the town centre, within walking distance of cafés, lunch spots, and the meadows featured in our afternoon walks.

Tickets: £25 (£15 for under 25’s)
Includes all talks, teas/coffee and cake.

Places are limited – book now to avoid disappointment! Here

This event is organised by Moor Meadows to celebrate ten productive and progressive years

Photo: John Walters. Greater Butterfly Orchid and Elephant Hawk Moth