These attractive meadows slope gently down to the River Thames, with the lower parts flooding in winter. The meadows are traditionally managed with an annual hay-cut and grazing by cattle. This provides an all-too-rare reminder of how much of London’s riverside flood meadows must have looked in the past. In fact, there have been cows grazing on Petersham Meadows from at least the early 17th century.There is public access only to the largest of the fields, alongside the River Thames.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
Petersham Meadows
Borough: Richmond upon Thames
Grade: Borough Grade II
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 14.61 ha
Description
Wildlife
Sheets of bulbous buttercups turn the fields gold in spring, and there is a good variety of other wildflowers. Damp areas support brooklime, hemlock water-dropwort and hairy sedge.Facilities
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