Lugg Meadow

Lying on the outskirts of Hereford City, Lugg Meadows are 300 acres of ancient wildflower meadows, boarding the picturesque River Lugg. The floodplain meadows are a wildlife haven cared for by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, Plantlife and local farmers. In early spring the meadows are speckled with one of the only wild populations of snake’s head fritillaries in the UK. Unlike the deep purple garden variety, the fritillaries of Lugg Meadows are mainly a delicate cream with a pink chequered pattern. Look closely and you can see the queen red-tailed bumblebees buzzing between the fritillaries. The meadows are a great place to spot orange tip butterflies, which lay their eggs on charming pink cuckoo flowers while dragonflies and damselflies dart along the riverbanks. In summer the babbling call of curlew fills the air, and skylarks sing high in the sky. Two rare members of the carrot family; narrow-leaved water-dropwort and pepper-saxifrage thrive in the damp floodplain amongst a carpet of yellow buttercups.

Opening times, entry costs, facilities and directions

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Image by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust