Deepway Meadow

Across the English countryside, countless small green spaces are easily overlooked, passed by without a second thought. Yet, many of these unassuming plots hold remarkable stories of community, dedication, and nature. Deepway Meadow in Sidbury is a perfect example—a tranquil corner of East Devon with a story far bigger than its size suggests.

Deepway Meadow is one of 245 "Millennium Greens" created across England in 2000 to celebrate the turn of the new millennium. This ambitious national project, partly funded by the National Lottery and administered by the Countryside Agency, established new green spaces for the benefit of local communities.

Created on land that was once part of the historic Deepway Farm, the meadow was placed into a local charitable trust. The core purpose of this trust is to hold the land in perpetuity, ensuring it remains a protected space for informal recreation, community events, and the enjoyment of nature for generations to come.

Deepway Meadow is nestled in the heart of Sidbury village, with the River Sid flowing along its eastern edge. It's a welcome stop for walkers on the East Devon Way long-distance footpath, which passes directly through the site. Visitor parking is available at the free car park behind Sidbury Parish rooms (EX10 0SN), a short walk from the meadow.

These features, which form the tranquil heart of the village, are maintained not by a council budget, but by the tireless efforts of a small volunteer trust operating on a shoestring. Visitors will find a welcoming space with:

• Open grassland

• Woodland planting

• A large pond with a dipping platform

• Rustic benches

• An interpretation board explaining the site's history and wildlife

A public footpath provides a peaceful walking route and essential, year-round access to the village cricket pitch.

The large pond serves as the meadow's main feature for wildlife, creating a vibrant, small-scale ecosystem. Visitors can expect to see a variety of plants and animals thriving in this carefully managed habitat.

• Plants: The area around the pond supports native species like Marsh marigold, purple loosestrife, Guelder Rose, and Willows.

• Wildlife: In the spring, the pond is filled with frog spawn, and during the summer, it becomes a hub of activity for several species of dragonflies and damselflies.

Managed habitats like this, even on a small scale, are incredibly important for preserving and supporting local biodiversity.

The responsibility for upholding the promise of "forever" falls to the Sidbury Millennium Green Trust, a registered charity run entirely by volunteers. The trust's primary challenge is financial; their funds are "extremely limited," and they have "no regular income" to cover maintenance or improvements. This challenge is compounded by a significant administrative hurdle: according to Charity Commission records, the trust is "Not recognised by HMRC for gift aid," preventing them from maximising the value of the public donations they depend on.

The recent restoration of the meadow's pond is a powerful case study. For years, the pond suffered from a persistent leak and had become overgrown with aquatic vegetation, leaving little open water. Thanks to contributions from Sidmouth Town Council, the East Devon AONB Communities Project Fund, and Cllr Stuart Hughes’s Locality Budget, the trust was able to hire professional contractors to mend the leak and clear the excess growth.

As the Chairman of the trustees, Chris Woodruff, stated:

The work has completely transformed the pond, creating open water and the wildlife has quickly returned. It looks beautiful once again.

This success highlights both the potential of the space and the trust's ongoing struggle. This financial precarity exists even as the meadow provides essential, year-round access to the village cricket pitch, a service for which the Trust currently receives no formal contribution. To fund future maintenance, the charity relies entirely on grants and public donations, using platforms like its JustGiving page to appeal for support.

Deepway Meadow is a national legacy promised to the community forever, yet its future rests on intermittent grants and the generosity of donors. This small patch of green in Sidbury is a microcosm of a national challenge, where the grand ideal of "perpetuity" is upheld daily by the dedication of volunteers. It is a community hub, a wildlife refuge, and a testament to the power of local passion. How many other vital community spaces like this rely on the passion of a few dedicated volunteers, and what can we do to support them?