The River Path
Water Meadows
An ancient system of encouraging the growth of grass before the growing season to provide stock with an early bite, water meadows are not exclusive to but do form a particular feature of chalk rivers. Water is diverted from the river by means of carriers to irrigate the meadow preventing the ground from freezing. Flooding is controlled by a series of sluices which divert the water through narrow head mains, over the meadow and into the wider drains. Hay could be taken in the summer after which the meadow could be flooded (floated) again to encourage grass growth for late grazing.
Watermeadows are important as archaeological features but are also very important as habitats for wild life, as they are floristically so much richer than improved grassland. They are also good habitats for young trout, grass snakes, adders and wading birds.
Owing to high labour costs, water meadows became uneconomical to maintain, few are still operational. Beside the river Lugg at Hereford, recently much contested ground, dole stones still mark different holder's strips. In Salisbury (above) much effort is going into reviving the watermeadows, painted by Constable, which also provide a refuge for the beleaguered water vole.
