Following an extensive restoration project, the historic water meadows at Twyford Meads were opened by Winchester's deputy mayor, Jean Hammerton, and county councillor, Keith Estlin.
The purchase of the site by the parish council and the restoration works were made possible by grants from Onyx Environmental Trust, Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Twyford Residents' Association.
A section of meadow has been restored as an example of part of a working water meadow. Channels and drains have been redug and bridges repaired or renewed. A system of sluices can be operated to vary the flow of the water, making it possible for a controlled flooding of this part of the meadow.
From around the 17th century until the 1930s, large sections of the Itchen Valley were farmed as water meadows. Water was channelled across the meadow by a series of carriers running along the top of ridges. The flow and level could be carefully controlled by hatches and sluices.
Workers managing the meadow were called "drowners" and to flood parts of the meadow they would place turf sods in the carrier channel to overflow that section of the ridge.
The process was known as floating and it would start each year in late winter. It encouraged the early and rapid growth of the grass by raising the temperature of the soil while spreading some silt and nutrients across the meadow. This very labour-intensive form of agriculture made it possible for production of two grass crops per year in addition to periodic grazing by cattle and sheep.
Other improvements to the area have been carried out, including footpath repairs, new fencing and the installation of kissing gates to replace stiles. There is also an ongoing programme of pollarding trees and replanting hedges. The work by Twyford Parish Council at the site will preserve the restored water meadow and encourage public access while retaining the natural beauty of this section of the Itchen Valley.
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