National Meadows Day 4th July 2026

In celebration of National Meadows Day, we’re sharing the story of the Urban Meadow at National Museum Cardiff, which is 13 years old this year!

Meadows are habitats dominated by native grasses and flowers, traditionally managed by a single annual hay cut and grazed by animals during the autumn and winter. They are diverse habitats that support a wide range of plants, animals and fungi however, the amount of land managed in this way has significantly decreased. In Wales, meadows are an example of a priority habitat of principle importance as they are under threat from changes to management, climate change and invasive species.

The urban meadow beside National Museum Cardiff was created in 2013. This patch of grass has been transformed from an area once described as species poor to one full of different species of grass and native wildflowers. It provides a haven for wildlife, enhancing the biodiversity around our site and, within the city, it also helps to form a green corridor for nature, linking up other green spaces across Cardiff and beyond.

Early ransformation of the meadow

Early transformation of the meadow

The meadow is now a lovely example of neutral semi-improved grassland in the centre of Cardiff. Cowslips (Primula veris), daffodils (Narcissus) and cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) in spring are followed by familiar meadow species such as ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), clovers (Trifolium spp.), meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris) and knapweed (Centaurea) along with grasses such as sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), crested dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus) and Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus). Last year we recorded, corky-fruited water-dropwort (Oenanthe pimpinelloides), a new species for the Urban Meadow, and one which is uncommon in Wales.

The Urban Meadow in Summer

Hoverfly on buttercup flower

All meadows need some annual maintenance to keep them in good condition and although we have followed the traditional regime of a single annual cut, as the years have gone by, we have seen some dominant grasses such as false oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) start to establish.

In autumn 2024, we added yellow rattle seed (Rhinanthus minor) with the help of funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund GROW project. This annual plant is semi-parasitic and can play an important role in helping to keep a healthy balance between grass and wildflowers. As it grows, it takes nutrients from the roots of surrounding grasses, in turn weakening and reducing their dominance and allowing space for wildflower species to spread.

The common name comes from its yellow flowers, forming round seed pods in summer which rattle when the seeds are ripe! It is also known as “the Meadow Maker” owing to its reputation for increasing floral diversity.

Yellow rattle seedling in May 2025

Yellow rattle flower in June 2025

The native wildflowers found on the meadow provide an important source of pollen and nectar for insects and butterflies, but it is the variety of grasses and flowers together that ensure it provides food, shelter and habitat for many other species too! The leaves, stems and roots can be just as important.

In recent years we have recorded pollinators including hoverflies, bees – solitary, honey and bumble, wasps, butterflies, moths and beetles. We have also spotted spiders, grasshoppers, caterpillars, dragonflies, woodlice, slugs and snails… the list could go on!

A male swollen thighed beetle

They are good pollinators, visiting a variety of open faced flowers such as this ox-eye daisy.

Some recent records include Swollen thighed beetle (Oedemera nobilis), Cinnabar moth caterpillars (Tyria jacobaeae) which feed primarily on Ragwort leaves (Jacobaea vulgaris) and Essex Skipper Butterfly (Thymelicus lineola). Day flying moth visitors include Six spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae) and spotted on different occasions last year Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), which visits Wales from southern Europe in the summer.

Cinnabar moth caterpillars

Essex skipper butterfly

Six spot burnet moth

A number of different habitats have also been created to provide more opportunities for wildlife around the meadow.

It’s not just insects that visit the meadow, groups of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) can often be seen wandering through searching for insects and one evening recently, a hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was spotted beside the meadow.

Our Natural Science Curators have created resources to help you identify plants, animals, rocks and fossils on your doorstep. You can find them on our website: Spotter’s Guide | Museum Wales