Sid Meadow

Wandering through The Byes in Sidmouth, it’s easy to feel you’ve stumbled upon a secret. This two-kilometer corridor of parkland and semi-natural habitats, stretching alongside the River Sid from Sidford to the sea, offers a tranquil green artery through the town. Along its banks, the manicured parkland gives way to a tranquil, picturesque field, inviting you to pause and enjoy a rare moment of peace. This is Sid Meadow, a pocket of traditional countryside cared for by the National Trust.

At first glance, it appears to be a simple, beautiful space—a classic English meadow. But look a little closer, and you'll find that this field holds a rich and layered story. It is a living landscape shaped by geology, managed with centuries-old techniques, and preserved by the powerful legacy of a pioneering social reformer. As a critical component of a wider biodiversity network that includes Margaret’s Meadow and Gilchrist Field, Sid Meadow is not an island, but a vital hub in a testament to the enduring connection between nature, community, and history.

Sid Meadow is a National Trust-owned riverside meadow forming an integral part of The Byes, the beloved green corridor that runs through Sidmouth. Its location makes it an easily accessible escape for walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers seeking a slice of the Sid Valley’s natural charm.

To find it, simply follow the main path that winds through The Byes. From the junction with the footpath leading to Fortescue, it is a pleasant 10-minute walk north to the foot of the meadow. The Byes offers shared paths suitable for both pedestrians and cyclists, and well-controlled dogs are welcome to enjoy the area alongside their owners.

The peaceful existence of Sid Meadow today is owed to the remarkable foresight and generosity of Annie Leigh Browne (1851–1936). A prominent and passionate activist in the women's suffrage movement, Browne was part of a forward-thinking generation that saw an intrinsic link between social reform and the nascent conservation movement. Her family had deep roots in Sidmouth, and her connection to the town was profound.

Driven by a desire to preserve natural spaces for public benefit, she ensured her Sidmouth estate would be protected in perpetuity for the community and, in her own words, the "working people of Sidmouth." Upon her death, she entrusted the management of her estate to her lifelong friend and fellow activist, Mary Kilgour, with the land ultimately being gifted to the National Trust. This act of philanthropy was an expression of a progressive ideology that valued both people and nature, ensuring the meadow would remain a sanctuary for all, safe from development. While its preservation is a modern story, archaeological surveys have revealed deeper roots, uncovering the remnants of a field boundary that has marked this landscape since at least 1838.

The character of Sid Meadow is shaped by its very foundations. It is a grassland meadow resting on a geological bed of Otter Sandstone, the red rock that defines so much of the East Devon landscape. This well-drained substrate, enriched by alluvial silts from the River Sid, provides the perfect conditions for the habitats that flourish here.

The management of Sid Meadow as a traditional hay meadow is a direct continuation of Annie Leigh Browne's stewardship ethos. At the National Trust, we employ a "late summer cut"—a cornerstone of our strategy to maximize floral diversity. Instead of frequent mowing, the meadow is allowed to grow throughout the spring and summer. This allows wildflowers to set seed, after which the hay is cut and the biomass removed. This crucial step maintains low soil fertility, preventing aggressive species from dominating and "shading out the delicate meadow flowers." Beyond the open grassland, the meadow is framed by other important features, including traditional hedgerows and small "copse plantations" that add to its structural diversity.

Thanks to careful, traditional management, Sid Meadow is buzzing with life. The plant community is built on foundational species like Rough Meadow Grass (Poa trivialis), whose root systems stabilize the soil. In the hedgerows, the delicate pink blooms of wild Dog Roses scramble through the branches. The grassland itself supports classic flowers like the cheerful yellow Meadow Buttercup, an indicator of historic, undisturbed grassland, and the vibrant purple spires of Tufted Vetch, a climbing legume essential to the meadow’s nitrogen cycle. Along the mown paths, the low-growing Knotgrass helps stabilize the ground, its seeds providing a valuable food source for birds like the Woodpigeon.

This rich tapestry of wildflowers provides the foundation for a vibrant community of insects, whose sounds and movements define the meadow's summer character. The traditional management means the populations of grasshoppers and crickets are doing "particularly well," filling the air with their distinctive song. The Byes corridor is alive with butterflies like the Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, and Meadow Brown, while the nearby River Sid attracts dragonflies, including the majestic Emperor Dragonfly and the iridescent Beautiful Demoiselle.

This rich invertebrate life, in turn, supports a wider range of wildlife that can be observed in and around the meadow. Keep an eye out for some of these other residents:

• Mammals: Grey Squirrels are often seen in the trees, while the workings of Moles and the presence of Badgers point to a healthy soil ecosystem. At dusk, Common Pipistrelle bats can be seen foraging for insects along the river.

• Birds: The flash of a Kingfisher is a regular sight along the quieter stretches of the River Sid. Buzzards soar high overhead, circling on thermals above the valley, while Woodpigeons are common visitors to the meadow floor.

Reptiles: In the overgrown margins and dense grasses at the meadow's edge, you may be lucky enough to spot a Slow-worm, a legless lizard that thrives in these sheltered spots.

Notable Trees of the Meadow

As part of the wider Sidmouth Arboretum, Sid Meadow and its environs are also home to several catalogued trees that contribute to its unique character and time-depth:

• Venerable English Oaks (Quercus robur): On the ancient hedge bank adjacent to the meadow stand several veteran oaks, estimated to be up to 400 years old. Quintessential to the English landscape, these magnificent trees are registered on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Register and support a vast array of life.

• Persian Walnuts (Juglans regia): Two of these handsome trees grow in the meadow. Though often called English Walnuts, this species was introduced to Britain by the Romans. One of the trees is being carefully monitored, as walnuts can naturally release a chemical that affects the growth of plants around their base.

• Beech (Fagus sylvatica): Two mature beech trees stand as successors to older specimens on a nearby bank that were lost to fungal attacks. One of these trees is estimated to be around 70 years old, with an impressive girth of 180cm.

Sid Meadow is not just a gift from the past; it is a living lesson in stewardship. It fulfills Annie Leigh Browne's vision by offering a sanctuary where nature’s quiet rhythms—the bloom of a buttercup, the whir of a grasshopper—can still be heard. Here, a thriving pocket of biodiversity is nurtured by conservation practices rooted in tradition, all while fulfilling the century-old vision of a woman who believed in preserving green spaces for everyone.

The next time you walk its mown paths, you are not just in a field; you are part of a century-old story of conservation..