Securing the future of the UK’s floodplain meadows

The Floodplain Meadows Partnership (FMP), led by The Open University (OU), has been awarded a further three years of funding from the Foundation for the Third Millennium. This new CHF 300,000 (Swiss franc) investment will support FMP to continue its vital work protecting and restoring one of the UK’s rarest and most biodiverse habitats.

Floodplain meadows are central to the UK’s climate resilience, water management and nature recovery ambitions. The renewed funding will support a comprehensive programme designed to help deliver England’s target of restoring 70,000 hectares of species rich grassland. Working closely with established partners, the FMP will provide specialist training, technical support and robust ecological monitoring to underpin the new Floodplain Meadows Countryside Stewardship option, which offers financial incentives for farmers to restore these threatened landscapes.

A key focus of the next phase is expanding the Partnership’s reach across all UK nations. By collaborating with devolved administrations, farming groups and conservation bodies, the FMP aims to help shape policy mechanisms and restoration targets that reflect the ecological and cultural value of floodplain meadows nationwide.

The programme will also accelerate landscape scale restoration through catchment based projects, hands-on training delivered via webinars, and practical resources designed to support farmers and land managers. Where meadows are stewarded by community groups, the FMP will work to embed long-term appreciation and care, ensuring restoration efforts endure for generations.

Over the next three years, the project will deliver three core objectives:

• Growing the national network to conserve existing meadows and enable new restoration
• Deepening public engagement with floodplain meadows through diverse perspectives
• Developing agri-environment schemes across the UK, supported by training and expert guidance

This renewed investment highlights the OU’s reputation for research that not only advances knowledge but delivers real-world environmental impact.