British meadows
Best wildflower meadow walks in Britain
Britain's meadows are at their most beautiful in spring and summer when they brim with wildflowers, pollinating insects and birdlife. We take a look at some of the best wildflower meadow walks and days out in the UK.
Walk: Dentdale, Cumbria
This magical circular walk through Dentdale begins at the village of Dent, passing through Gawthorp before returning along the banks of the River Dee.
Day out: Pentwyn Farm, Penallt, Monmouthshire
Visit a Welsh meadow, where wild orchids and golden buttercups grow amid graceful quaking grass on centuries-old farmland, high above the River Wye
Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire
Did you know there is a rare species of orchid that looks like a tiny person? Explores a characterful Cambridgeshire reserve in search of this floral spring delight – and many more
Day out: Whitehill Down, Carmarthenshire
Take a twilight walk through a little-known meadow in Wales, where orchids rise and bloom alongside great burnet, star sedge and swathes of yellow rattle
Walk: South Uist, Outer Hebrides
Scotland’s Western Isles are a hotspot for the rare grassland habitat called machair, and one of the best examples can be found on the island of South Uist
Walk: Kingcombe Meadows, Dorset
Delve into the complex, magical and deeply fragile world of meadows with a visit to one of Britain’s most impressive examples, hidden away in a quiet corner of the Dorset countryside
Guide to Britain's road verges: history, why they are important and threats
An abundant, wildlife-rich nature reserve larger than the Lake District – this could be the future for Britain’s roadside verges. As our handy guide to road verges explains, all we need to do is mow them at the right time.
British seasonal wildflowers guide: how to identify, when to see and where to find them
A splash of colour can always be found in the British countryside thanks to the wildflowers growing across meadows, coastal cliffs and wet habitats. Our expert guide on how to identify, when to see and where to find them
Rare species thriving once again in Beatrix Potter’s hay meadows
Rare hay meadow species, including field voles, painted lady butterflies, barn and tawny owls, are thriving once again on land previously owned by Beatrix Potter in the Lake District.
