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. 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.
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.