The ‘Friends of Longrun Meadow’ was established in 2010 working with Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) to manage and maintain the open space, and encourage the local community to use the land through sporting activities, holding events and looking after the wildlife and environment of the meadows. In 2014 the Friends took on a greater role over the management of the meadows through a three year agreement with the Council and were provided with a small amount of funding to undertake some management of the natural landscape, such as hedge management, the woodland copses and the willow cathedral.
In 2013 the Friends group entered the meadows into an Entry Level Stewardship agreement to provide additional funds. The funding helps to contract a tenant farmer to take the grass for hay each year, thereby helping the wild flowers and grasses to florish. In addition, the Friends were successful in a grant application to the Somerset Community Foundation matched with funding provided by TDBC to start a wild flower restoration of Cathedral Field using yellow rattle.
The Friends also help organise events on the meadows, such as singing in the willow cathedral, a sporting and canine festivals and guided walks. There is a weekly free parkrun event and regular orienteering activities.
The friends are an active community group and would be very interested in anyone that would like to help with the management of the meadows. Everyone on the committee is a volunteer and they all have a passion for the meadows to be an enjoyable open space for the people of Taunton.
