Each year some Monmouthshire Meadows Group members open their meadows to visitors. It’s a chance to view other types of wildflower meadows, find out about different management regimes, and meet other enthusiasts.
Our Open Meadows this year are all in the Trostrey/Gwehelog area between Raglan and Usk (map and directions).
The meadows will be open between 10.30am and 4.30pm with guided flower walks available in the morning and afternoon. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy a full day and see all the meadows, or pick and choose for a shorter visit.
There is no charge and no need to book to come along, but please book for the walks as numbers are limited on these (booking form)
There is a charge for refreshments, and of course additional donations are always welcome!
Well behaved dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.
The Open Meadow Sites
The Duffryn in Trostrey, home of Rachel and Simon Taylor. This 9 acre site is managed as a small holding and as well as 3 acres of flower-rich meadow, with a mix of dry and marshy grassland, they have a small orchard and no-dig vegetable garden. Meadow indicator species occur, such as Common Knapweed, Bugle, Pignut, Cat’s-ear and Meadow Vetchling, as well as indicators of marshy grassland including Wild Angelica, Marsh-marigold, Water Mint, Water Figwort and various sedges.
Glenview Farm, home of Mary and Jim Neal and just along the road from The Duffryn. Around 6 acres of south facing pasture divided into four fields with stunning views and some adorable rescue ponies. Much of the site has been designated a Local Wildlife Site, and also features indicator species of both dry and marshy grassland, including Ragged Robin, Marsh Bedstraw, Hemlock Water Dropwort and, in the less marshy areas, Eyebright and Bird’s-foot Trefoil.
Saran’s Fields, owned by Saran Allot-Davey who lives not far from the fields in Trostrey. Saran has 11 acres in total, including unimproved grassland and bogs. We shall be taking a shorter walk through the meadow and exploring a hidden pond.
Oak Farm at Gwehelog, home of Christopher and Alicia Guinness. This old family farm with around 20 acres of pasture & mixed woodland grazed by sheep, now includes an orchard meadow, where Burnet Saxifrage, Betony and Pignut have been found, and a delightful gazebo where you can sit and enjoy the stunning views. Alicia will be serving refreshments in aid of a local charity.
Limited Mobility Options
You can opt to take the car up to Glenview Farm for a short walk through their meadow (there is limited parking here so please let us know in advance and we will send directions).
At Oak Farm there is the option to sit and enjoy the view from the gazebo area. There is a short path at the top of the meadow which is suitable for wheelchairs.
Guided Flower Walks
Walk A takes in two sites close to each other – park at The Duffryn and walk through the meadows to Glenview Farm, returning down the road. Walks B and C follow on from each other, starting at Saran’s fields (Walk B) and ending at Oak Farm (Walk C), with a short car journey between the sites.
For a full day you can do Walk A in the morning, and Walks B and C in the afternoon, or B and C in the morning and Walk A in the afternoon.
UPDATE: Walk A is now fully booked for the morning walk. Please book for the afternoon only for this walk.
Walk A: Around The Duffryn and Glenview Farm, approximately 1 km round trip taking around 2 hours, allowing time for flower identification. There is an option to return earlier
Start times: 11am and 2.30pm
Walk B: Around Saran’s fields to a hidden wildlife pond, approximately 500m with a steep slope down to the pond, returning the same way. This will take up to an hour, leaving time to go on to the next walk at Oak Farm, about 10 minutes away by car
Start times: 10:45am and 2pm
Walk C: Oak Farm meadows, a short walk around 500m, which will take up to an hour leaving time for refreshments
Start times: 12 noon and 3.30pm
UPDATE: Walk C is now fully booked for the afternoon. Please book for the morning only for this walk.
Booking Form for Flower Walks
Bookings are now closed
Map and Directions
Gwehelog and Trostrey are reached via the Usk to Raglan road.
From the north (Abergavenny/Monmouth): take the A40 and at the Raglan roundabout take the Usk Road, signed to Gwehelog and Usk.
From Usk, take the old Monmouth Road signed to Gwehelog and the Natural Burial Ground.
Oak Farm is on this road. Coming from the north it is about 1/2 mile past Coldharbour, on the left. Coming from Usk it is on the right just north of Gwehelog Village Hall and the Hall Inn pub. The post code is NP15 1RB The entrance to the drive is at grid reference SO 39223 03642, what3words.com/vibrating.marketing.case – drive to the house for parking.
The Duffryn is in Trostrey, which is best reached from the turning at Coldharbour. From the north on the Usk Road, the turning is a sharp right immediately after the Coldharbour village sign (2.7 miles from Raglan). From the south, it is 2.5 miles along the old Monmouth Road, through Gwehelog and about 1/2 mile further on take a left fork (just after a bus shelter, by the Coldharbour sign). Then:
- Straight on at the first crossroads (past the chapel which is on the right just past the crossroads)
- 1/3 mile from the Usk Road, there is a fork in the road. As the road bends left, take the right fork onto the smaller lane (there is no sign here, but there is a white house on the right, and a brick house on the left)
- After 0.2 miles, at the next junction (at ‘Cherry Tree’) take the right fork
- The Duffryn is a further 0.2 miles along this road, on the right
The Duffryn’s post code is NP15 1LA, and the drive entrance is at grid reference SO 38182 04908, what3words.com/enormous.balloons.liberated
For Saran’s Fields take the same turning off the Usk Road to Trostrey at Coldharbour (as described above for The Duffryn). Then:
- At the first crossroads (just before the chapel) turn left
- Carry straight on this road for about 0.7 mile, past the crossroads with Wainfield Lane and straight across the next crossroads (where the road becomes rougher)
- The parking is about 200 yards (180m) from the crossroads, by a barn on the right
Alternatively, you can also reach Saran’s Fields by taking the road north from Gwehelog Village Hall. This reaches a cross roads after 1/2 mile – turn left down the rougher road and the parking is about 200 yards (180m) down this lane, on the right.
The nearest post code is NP15 1RE, and the parking area is grid reference SO 38370 03775 at what3words.com/wrenching.thinks.stunner
Note that these are all small, usually single track lanes. Each site will be indicated with Monmouthshire Meadows signs on the day.
Monmouthshire Meadows Group 