Links – contacts and further information, both local and national :
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Botanical Society of the Britain and Ireland – http://www.bsbi.org.uk/
Buglife – https://www.buglife.org.uk/
Bumble Bee Conservation Trust – http://bumblebeeconservation.org/
Butterfly Conservation – http://butterfly-conservation.org/
Carmarthenshire Beekeepers Association – https://www.carmarthenbka.org.uk/
Carmarthenshire Fungi – http://www.carmarthenshirefungi.co.uk/
Carmarthenshire Moth and Butterfly Group – http://www.carmarthenshiremoths.co.uk/
CCC biodiversity pages – http://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/biodiversity
Denmark Farm – http://www.denmarkfarm.org.uk/
Dyfed Smallholders Association – http://www.dyfedsmallholders.com
Flora Locale – http://www.floralocale.org/HomePage
Monmouthshire Meadows Group – http://www.monmouthshiremeadows.org.uk/
National Botanic Garden of Wales – http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/
National Library of Wales, Places of Wales – https://places.library.wales/ – the search page for investigating the Tithe Maps of Wales.
Plantlife – http://www.plantlife.org.uk/
Pollinator habitat management – http://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/news/new-practical-guide-habitat-creation-and-management-pollinators
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales – https://rcahmw.gov.uk/discover/
South West Wales Goat Club – http://www.southwestwalesgoatclub.co.uk/
Welsh Meadows – http://www.plantlife.org.uk/publications/welshmeadows
West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre – http://www.wwbic.org.uk/
Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales – http://www.welshwildlife.org/
Wild About Plants – the magnificent meadows project – http://www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/england/projects/magnificent-meadows/
HAND TOOLS
Scything – Austrian scythes seem to be generally recommended as lighter and easier to use
http://scytheassociation.org/ or http://www.austrianscythes.co.uk/
Tools for Self Reliance. Refurbish tools and send them to Africa but many UK tools are not required so they are refurbished for sale. Crickhowell shop only – not online .
http://www.tfsrcymru.org.uk/
Traditional wooden hayrakes ( light and strong in various sizes to suit ): http://www.thenaturalgardener.co.uk/handmade_wooden_hay_rake.php
MOTORISED GRASS CUTTERS/POWER SCYTHES
MowDirect – http://www.mowdirect.co.uk/acatalog/MowDIRECT_SICKLE_BAR___SCYTHE_MOWERS_731.html
Tracmaster Ltd (new kit) – good video demonstration. http://www.tracmaster.co.uk/
USEFUL PUBLICATIONS
Monmouthshire Grassland Leaflet – helpful information you can access by following this link: http://www.monmouthshiremeadows.org.uk/?p=1720
Meadows by George Peterken – Published in 2013, perhaps the starting point for anyone wanting to know more about the history, culture and management of meadows. A weighty tome, but an invaluable reference.
CONTRACTORS – please note that any contractor listed here is NOT a CMG recommendation. Please make your own enquiries.
Rob Stephens – wide range of agricultural work including topping (flail, rotary and with a cut and collect option). Mulching for more thick scrub clearance. fencing and any access works (foot path installation and maintenance, style and bridge installation. rjsfarm51@googlemail.com
Gary Howell – based in Meidrim (about 8 miles W of Carmarthen). Available for fencing, tree work, digger work, tractor work. garyhowell650@gmail.com
Adam Butler– small bale hay cutting and baling. Covering South West Wales. 07870 520305. Also trades as AB Plant Services – groundworks, fencing and land clearing – see Facebook page. adambutler@abplantservices.co.uk
Out of the Woods – Stu and Dana – habitat creation to increase biodiversity whilst keeping traditional countryside skills alive. Hedge laying, fencing repairs, habitat creation, aerial photography, tool sharpening and maintenance, coppicing and woodland management, ground based tree work and chipping, countryside furniture – gates, stiles, benches, steps…brushcutting, scrub clearance and footpath maintenance. Contact 07817 886046, 07979 574513 or danariggs@protonmail.com
RC Matts & Son – Chris Matts –Meadow Creation & Management, Hay Cutting, Hedge laying. 01639 750114; 07913882086; crsmatts@hotmail.co.uk (Crynant, Neath)
Mat Sutton – Wyndrushwild – supplier of wild meadow seed. Also has brush harvester and hand held seed harvester. http://wyndrushwild.co.uk/ or 07870 515942 or 07905 505357. Email: info@wyndrushwild.co.uk
Carmarthenshire Meadows Group - Grŵp Dolydd Sir Gaerfyrddin 
Another resource that many might find useful is “The Lowland Grassland Management Handbook” 2nd edition by A crofts and R G Jefferson (eds), (1999). Some of it (esp the stuff about available grants) is a bit out of date, but it’s incredibly detailed and thorough, it’s in 17 chapters, and it was the sum of knowledge of the Wildlife Trusts and English Nature (as it then was) about how to manage grassland for biodiversity. Hard copies are very rare,but the whole thing is available as a .pdf for each chapter at the Natural England website:
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/35034
It’s probably the nearest thing there is to a Haynes Manual for meadows.
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Another book that many might already be aware of, which I’d thoroughly recommend to anyone interested in the role of meadows in providing not just wild life havens, but also human interest, and perhaps havens, throughout the year is the beautifully written “Meadowland- The Private Life of an English Field” by John Lewis- Stempel”, who writes about his own patch of meadow on the English/Welsh border of Herefordshire, throughout the seasons. Click:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18104707-meadowland
for reviews from other readers. Should be on every meadow owner’s wish list perhaps?
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So much information here, I have a photo of an unusual fungi on my phone but not quite sure how to send it to you my number is 07548214922
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Hello Ros,
If you can attach the photo to an email (preferably in a resized/reduced image size), you can send it to me at grumpyhobbit@gmail.com .
As to how you do this from a mobile phone, I’m afraid I’m not the chap to ask, since I never use mobile phones, other than occasionally to ring people! Fiona tells me that her phone does have an option on its menu to attach an image to a message. Failing that I guess you could google how to it with your brand of phone…I’m sure someone out there will have provided the answer on line…
I’m not a fungi expert, and tend to try to identify things using the excellent ” Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain and Europe” by Roger Phillips. Alternatively if you can work out how to send the image, there are links to 2 local fungi groups on the last blog post, who you could also perhaps send it to ?
Best wishes
Julian
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