Hello

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Thanks for your continued support of our grassroots project.

This month we have

• Discussed our vision with Jesse Norman MP alongside Jeremy Milln, Councillor for Hereford Central Ward, and Andrew Nixon, Senior Reserves Manager, Hereford Wildlife Trust
• Submitted a speculative funding pitch to the Stronger Town Fund
• Maintained contact with the Church Commissioners, owners of Bartonsham Farm
• Hit a record 89 registered supporters
• Continued to talk with potential partners organisations

Please look out for

• Our blog on the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust site https://www.herefordshirewt.org/blog/friends-bartonsham-meadows/introducing-friends-bartonsham-meadows
• An online information session with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust City Branch in January 2021
• Possible media coverage!

Please could you

• Share this newsletter with friends and family
• Send us images, film clips and recollections of what the Meadows mean to you for us to use on our social media
• Consider joining Herefordshire Wildlife Trust (Ruth – convenor – has just asked for membership as a birthday present!)
• Get in touch with feedback and ideas

All the best

Friends of Bartonsham Meadows

Hello

Thank you for supporting Friends of Bartonsham Meadows. Your support has enabled us to take forward our project of working to support a transition to ecological and socially beneficial land-use practices at Bartonsham Farm, Hereford.

This project brings individual action and insight to bear on crucial questions of belonging, biodiversity, and climate change.

Here’s an update on our activities. We have focused on maintaining a dialogue with the Church Commissioners and developing our networks with local supporters and local and regional stakeholders. 

Specifically we have:

• Secured the support of over 60 people who have signed up at http://www.friendsofbartonshammeadows.org.
• Distributed 2000 leaflets to local residents and businesses to introduce our work and seek support.
• Secured the ear of local government and the interest of the administration on Herefordshire Council.
• Raised over £2000 in funds to cover our current activities and support further work.
• Received financial support and endorsement from Healing Herbs, alongside the support of organisations such as Hereford Wildlife Trust, Bartonsham History Group, Growing Local and the St. James’ and Bartonsham Community Association.

Our focus has been to develop our expertise and professionalism should the opportunity arise to support the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust in a bid to manage the Meadows in line with its objectives as a conservation organisation.

We are now developing our communications capacity in order to reach out to residents and stakeholders both locally and regionally.

Please would you:

• Spread the word – ask your friends, colleagues and networks to sign-up to support our objectives and receive our newsletter http://www.friendsofbartonshammeadows.org
• Get in touch to volunteer your skills info@friendsofbartonshammeadows.org. The more volunteers we can get on board to help with the project will make a huge difference to meeting our group objectives, both short-term and long-term. Get in touch to find out how you can do your bit!
• Follow us on social media – we have just launched (today!!) brand new pages on Instagram, Twitter and a Facebook group to keep you up-to-date on the project and gain more support locally and regionally. It would be great if you could follow us using the links at the end of this email.
• Share with us your images and stories of the meadows for us to use to promote our campaign info@friendsofbartonshammeadows.org. We’d love to build a collection of photographs sent in by our supporters to share on our new social media pages. Your experience of these meadows matters.
• Donate to support our activities. Make cheques payable to St. James’ and Bartonsham Community Association, noting ‘Friends of Bartonsham Meadows’ on the back. Please post to 19 Nelson Street, Hereford HR1 2NZ.

All the best

Friends of Bartonsham Meadows

Hello

You are receiving this newsletter because we have been in touch about supporting a transition to socially regenerative and ecologically focused land-management at Bartonsham Farm. Thank you.

We acted swiftly in the last few months to set up a Friends of Bartonsham Meadows group which you can check out here www.friendsofbartonshammeadows.org. Our primary objectives are to promote environmental and social welfare benefits through the restoration of these historically important flood-plain meadows to environmentally sustainable management.

We have opened a dialogue with the land-owners and managers about their plans for the land and asked to be involved in discussions they are currently holding. We are cautiously optimistic about these communications. We have received much appreciated support from key expert organisations – such as the Bartonsham and St James Community Association, the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, and the Bartonsham History Group. The History Group have produced a fabulous history of the meadows. Please check it out here https://www.bartonshamhistory.org.uk/uploads/2/0/9/4/20946882/historybartonshammeadows.pdf.

This Friends Group is a focal point for contributing to important discussions on ecology, biodiversity, natural flood-defences, local social engagement and social regeneration opportunities. All of this has a place in the wider debates around climate change and active social engagement in our communities.

Whilst we have quickly made promising progress we have few resources to support our big vision. Please help us.

• Donate to support our activities. Make cheques payable to St. James’ and Bartonsham Community Association, noting ‘Friends of Bartonsham Meadows’ on the back. Please post to 19 Nelson Street, Hereford HR1 2NZ.
• Join local ward councillor Jeremy Milln for a litter pick of the meadows and Row Ditch on Sunday 6 September 2pm. Meet at the Green Street end of the Row Ditch. For more information contact jeremy.milln@herefordshire.gov.uk.
• Sign-up to support our objectives and receive our newsletter http://www.friendsofbartonshammeadows.org/?page_id=147.
• Get in touch to volunteer your time and share  your views info@friendsofbartonshammeadows.org