Foster's Green Meadows

Eades Meadow by Paul Lane

Eades Meadow by Paul Lane

The pedestrian gate is now locked; please can all visitors use the public footpath stile. Thank you for sticking to the paths and not trampling the delicate wildflowers on this beautiful nature reserve.

12.5ha
Dog on a lead
Volunteer Group
Designated a National Nature Reserve for the wealth of plants found in part of the unspoiled depths of Worcestershire’s countryside.

Location

Woodgate Road
Nr Hanbury
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B60 4HY
A static map of Foster's Green Meadows

Know before you go

Size
13 hectares
P

Parking information

Please only park at the entrance if visiting the meadow (very limited parking). Access may be needed for management purposes so we may ask you to move your vehicle.

Grazing animals

Cattle

Walking trails

A seasonal mown path is open during the flowering period from May to July. Grass will be slippery underfoot when wet.

Access

There are stiles and a kissing gate to access the meadows.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Dawn to dusk. Access restricted to public footpaths.

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

So great have been the changes in our countryside during the last 50 years that a field full of flowers, once considered commonplace, is now a rarity and warrants national recognition. 

Foster’s Green and Eades Meadows were once Foster’s Green Farm and have not been ploughed for at least 100 years nor have they ever been treated with chemical fertilisers, herbicides or other agricultural chemicals. Lying on heavy clay soils, their interest lies in the large number of plants that grow here – over 180 have been recorded - and the huge number of insects, spiders and other invertebrates that they support.  Eades Meadow is particularly famous for its green-winged orchids in spring and meadow saffron in autumn.  The colour of the meadow changes daily as different flowers come into flower throughout spring and summer.

Eades is grazed by cattle in late autumn and early winter before being left to grow hay.  The hay is cut late the following summer after the flowers have seeded.  Following a period of growth, the field is grazed and the cycle begins again.

Part of the land was once a small orchard and a few fruit trees remain.  A number of large oak trees mark the positions of old field boundaries and young trees have been planted as future replacements.  The huge elms that once grew in the hedges were killed by elm disease and their demise opened up the field to the wind and sun.

Foster’s Green Meadows lie within the larger Living Landscape project area of the Forest of Feckenham.

Please note that due to the fragility of the site, visitors should not stray from the public footpath that crosses part of the meadow.

Contact us

Eleanor Reast
Contact number: 01905 754919

Environmental designation

National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Location map

Cowslips and orchids by Robin Couchman

Cowslips and orchids by Robin Couchman

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