The Bishop’s Meadow consists of 31.5 acres of low lying agricultural land to the west of Farnham’s town centre in Surrey. It is an ancient part of Farnham’s farming heritage and part of its floodplain defences.

Made up of a mix of wet hay meadow, rough pasture and managed scrub and undergrowth, it supports a rich variety of flora and fauna. The Northern branch of the River Wey forms the southern boundary and the far western corner lies next to Farnham cemetery and the West Street allotments.

Aerial images courtesy of Allan Arthurs of Media Techniche Ltd

The far eastern boundary is the Old Vicarage gardens. The tower of St Andrew’s Parish Church is a prominent part of the backdrop to the Meadow and there are also views of Farnham Castle and the spire of the United Reform Church in Farnham..

Historically, floodplain meadows were an important part of the British agricultural landscape. The meadows are an important habitat for bees, other insects and the birds which feed on them. In late summer, farmers lift the hay crop which becomes a rich source of food for cattle, sheep and horses over the winter months.  Cattle can graze these meadows throughout the autumn because the natural fertility of the land allows grass to continue growing after the hay had been cut.

The importance of the meadows also lies in protecting Farnham from flooding - this is succinctly explained on the Farnham Town Council website: ‘…Left to its own devices the Wey, like all rivers, would largely regulate its own flow by over-topping its banks into adjacent low-lying land often designated as flood or water meadows. This natural process can still be seen in operation when the Bishop’s Meadows and other fields alongside the A 31 Alton road are regularly under water. This water is effectively held in a temporary reservoir, thus reducing the flood risk through the town centre’

Today, there are very few floodplain meadows in Britain and the Bishop’s Meadow is one of the few that remain. In 2013, the Bishop’s Meadow was classified as a Site of Nature Conservation Importance for its “rich grassland habitat supporting 17 plant species typical of grassland of conservation interest in Surrey”.  Read more in the News section.

Grass images courtesy of Jonathan Durham ARPS