In the depths of winter it can be hard to recall the wondrous sights and sounds of a wildflower meadow brimming with bees and butterflies in high summer. But while a meadow in January may not be a riot of colour, beneath the surface thousands of dynamic processes are underway and the soil is teeming with life. Under the morning frosts and sharp winter sun, a plethora of plants are preparing to erupt - and that's good news for the 1,400 species of insects that rely on meadow plants for their survival.
There's no greater reminder of the glory of our magnificent meadows than the brand new video from Plantlife's Botanical Specialist Dr Trevor Dines showing a whole year in the life of his Welsh meadow in just two minutes. It's put a spring in my step for 2019 and I do hope you enjoy it (and the glorious grazing Highland Cows) as much as I did! It has also inspired me to redouble my efforts to do my bit to save and protect meadows in this crucial year for the environment.
NOW really is when your invaluable support is MOST needed: early spring is when meadows are most likely to disappear under the plough. We simply can't let that happen - we've already lost 97% of British wildflower meadows since the Second World War and the remaining isolated fragments of meadows are threatened as never before. Just a few days ago the severe threat posed by ammonia air pollution on the diversity of meadows plants was highlighted by Plantlife.
To help meadows and their wildlife please do continue to sign and share my petition to call on the government to urgently draft environmental legislation to ensure that meadows are protected - now, and after Brexit.
o You can stay up to date on the campaign to save and protect meadows here - https://bit.ly/2MHHEA9 - and at: