Where nature meets technology
The Centre & Nature Reserve
The Madley Environmental Study centre (MESC) is a registered charity formed in 2001 by a group of individuals committed to providing environmental activities for people of all ages and abilities. The charity is lucky enough to have a 99 year lease of a beautiful Nature Reserve, covering an area of almost fifteen acres with the spectacular backdrop of BT Madley Satellite Station's 32 metre diameter dishes.
MESC's extensive on-site facilities include a large log cabin (12m x 6m), toilets, a small kitchen, a large open fronted barn, wooden shelters and a parachute canopy, so whatever the weather our activities can continue.
Our site includes a seven acre educational area comprising of wetlands, woodlands and meadows which are bordered by a secure fence allowing peace of mind for visiting groups. Outside the fence, we have use of a further eight acres of land which once formed part of RAF Madley's WW2 airfield. See below for more details about the site's facinating history....
Our Senior Staff
Louise Murphy has been our Education Manager for many years and overseen the development of the Centre from a wild space to the beautiful Educational facility we have today. Louise originally taught at a school in Northamptonshire before being offered the position of Education Officer with the Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust, from where she joined MESC in 2003 and hasn’t looked back.
Louise Murphy
Education Manager
Steve Anstey has been our Site Maintenance Officer for more years than he cares to remember and has been instrumental in the development of the Centre, previously working as an electrical engineer at BT before joining MESC. Originally a Trustee of MESC, his wide range of skills have been invaluable to the charity.
Steve Anstey
Site Maintenance Officer
Board of Trustees
Stephen Williams
Chair Person
Maureen Venn
Secretary
Nick Wood
Trustee
Joanna Bryan
Trustee
Pamela Treadwell
Treasurer
Sabrina Haddock
Trustee
Our RAF History
Part of our beautiful Nature Reserve was once a section of the RAF Madley Airfield, where during the early days of WW2, three full size runways and dozens of buildings were created on arable land adjacent to the villages of Madley and Kingstone in Herefordshire, to accommodate a RAF radio signals training school.
