It’s that time of year again when wildflower planting comes to the forefront. At Phoenix Amenity Supply we are excited to highlight new projects that are advancing the cause of our natural habitats and this month we take a look at one local to us in Worcester.
The University posted the following earlier this month
Students and staff at the University of Worcester have created a new wildflower area to allow insects and other animals to thrive.
Members of the University Nature Society worked with Grounds staff to sow a wildflower seed mix over an area of 500 square metres, on a popular pedestrian route at the University’s St John’s Campus.The perennial flowers have been chosen specifically to create a habitat which will help to provide food and shelter for a number of species, including bees and butterflies, but is also likely to support birds and small mammals like meadow voles. A total of 22 species have been sown, including knapweed, wild teasel, oxeye daisy, kidney vetch, common agrimony, field scabious, selfheal, red campion and bird’s-foot trefoil.
Wildflower Partnership
The project is a partnership between the Natural Networks Programme and the University assisted by the European Regional Development Fund. The idea is to create areas of countryside that encourage the flora and fauna that has been displaced by the diminishing number of hedgerows and wild areas over the years. The plants and insects that thrive in wildflower meadows are essential not only for biodiversity, put also play a vital role in pollination and are part of the food chain on which other creatures rely. The knock on effects of the removal of wildflower areas over the years has a cascading negative effect on the countryside that gets worse over time. Programs like this look to reverse the damage.
The other benefit of course if that it is wonderful to look at
Over the next year the wildflower strip will be regularly cut to encourage the flowers to establish themselves, but by next summer those passing should see a wealth of flowers on display.
Various wildflower areas have been created at the University over the past decade on the St John’s Campus. The new site sits opposite one of the University’s first wildflower areas created in 2012, using green hay collected from Malvern Common.Principal Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Management, Dr Duncan Westbury, who has helped to steer the project, said: “This scheme is important because we have lost so many wildflower areas in the wider landscape, and we know that by establishing wildflowers in more urban areas it can be very beneficial for a vast array of wildlife species.” He added that it was possible for everyone to make a positive impact on wildlife in their own gardens using a similar method. “Even if you don’t designate a large area to wildflowers, a wildflower plant here and there in your herbaceous border can be beneficial,” he said. “Every bit helps to provide food and shelter for various species.”
If you want to learn more, ask questions or perhaps set up your own wildflower area then come and meet us. Phoenix Amenity Supplies will be at the Sports Ground Expo on the 6th and 7th of July 2022.
Click the link below to learn more.
