This field sits on the edge of Newenden, bordered by the Rother and the bridleway. What you see today is the result of steady, seasonal work — restoring a mixed meadow of grasses, wildflowers, wet ground and open paths that change with every month.
The meadow lies south of the village, between Lossenham Lane and the River Rother. A mown path runs around the field, with views across the wildflower areas and the wetter ground where frogs and fritillaries appear in spring. It’s open to visitors all year — boots recommended after rain.
The meadow works in seasons, and so do we. Each phase brings its own tasks and rhythms — from early-spring forage plants to summer flowering and autumn seed-set. Here’s the simple shape of the year:
Spring
New growth returns: daffodils, fritillaries, early vetches, frogs in the wet patches. We weed thistles and docs, plant new plants and start mowing the paths.
Summer
The field is at its fullest. Yellow rattle, knapweed, wild carrot and meadow vetchling come into flower. Bees, moths and butterflies are active, and surveys take place across the meadow.
Autumn
Seeds drop, grasses dry, and the structure of the meadow becomes visible again. We remove any self-seeded willow, prepare the field for grazing, and clear the paths for winter.
Winter
Quiet planning months. Floodwater may rise and fall. We prepare the next sowing patches and review what the year has taught us.
The restoration began with a simple question: what would thrive here naturally?
With guidance from wildlife organisations and support from the Selmes Trust, the field is gradually returning to a mixed meadow:
Every choice is made to support long-term biodiversity — not quick wins.
The central scrape is one of the meadow’s most active areas. In wetter months it fills, attracting frogs, emerging insects and moisture-loving plants. In dry spells, you can see the land’s contours and the paths that wildlife uses to cross it.
This small wetland is central to the meadow’s diversity — and is cared for with a light, seasonal hand.
Future plans include:
Nothing here is rushed. Each step is tested, observed and adapted.
Volunteers help with mowing paths, raking hay, planting, sowing yellow rattle and managing seasonal tasks. Their work keeps the project moving — and makes the meadow a shared place, not just a field.
Each year, Jillian creates a hand-drawn map of the meadow — noting new species, wildflower patches, wetter ground, the scrape, and where plants are beginning to spread. These sketches show the restoration unfolding in real time.
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