The Magic & Myth of Water Meadows

The origins of water meadows are lost in medieval times. Surface water irrigation expanded in Wessex and throughout England from the sixteenth century and was a sustainable intensive integrated agricultural system until the twentieth century. This talk looks at the origins of water meadows in England, their management and importance to agriculture through the centuries, and why they are still important in terms of landscape history and ecology today.

Dr Kathy Stearne has conducted 30 years of water meadows research. Growing up in the Yorkshire Dales, Kathy has a love for the countryside and history. She has worked in agriculture and conservation since 1980. Kathy gained a Doctorate in Agricultural History and Ecological Management from Imperial College London in 2004. She presently runs a consultancy for landowners and farmers, advising on conservation, ecology and hydrology. She has many years of experience as a successful lecturer and mentor and is currently working with Reading University mentoring undergraduate Students. Kathy has a passion for travel and is a resident historian on Viking Ocean Cruises, recently cruising around Norway and the Mediterranean.

Home of Hillforts & Henges is an exciting new event from 21st to 31st July that will celebrate Dorchester’s neolithic and iron age landscape, rich in earthworks and the people that have lived here for over 6,000 years.

The event is part of the National CBA Festival of Archaeology 2022 and activities will take place at multiple locations across the town.

With grateful thanks to our headline sponsors, Blanchards Bailey, Kingston Maurward and Dorchester Town Council.