Wildflower meadows can often be undervalued as some can see them as unruly, messy landscapes compared to the manicured lawns and grasslands we have become accustomed to, but this perceived “messiness” is key to their success as thriving wildlife habitats.
🌻 Wildflowers meadows are wildlife havens
Meadows are teeming with biodiversity (meaning they have a variety of different plants and wildlife) and their ‘untidy’ appearance is due to the amount of plant species co-existing within the meadow, each with it’s own unique characteristics, appearance and benefits for wildlife.
🌻 Low maintenance but well managed
While wildflowers require less upkeep than a manicured lawn (making them a less cost-intensive and more eco-friendly option long term) this doesn't mean they go unmanaged.
Effective management and a specific cutting regime is essential to ensure the meadow can support a diverse range of plant species - preventing it from becoming dominated by more competitive plants or declining due to accumulation of thatch (dead plant material/grass).
🌻 A biodiversity boost through the seasons
A meadow won’t be a colourful display all year round, but it still provides essential habitat and sustenance for wildlife while out of bloom.
Dried seed heads and seed fall help to bridge the food gap that winter brings, providing an essential source of food for birds and other seed-eating wildlife through the colder months, while also providing shelter.
We want to create our first community wildflower meadow through a community buyout of grassland in Inchinnan. Our community member’s input is an essential step in this process, to have your say and to find out more about this project visit: https://forms.gle/g4DekwcZxaAC2dKH8
Photo credit: Urban Pollinators [http://urbanpollinators.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-create-perennial-flower-meadow_25.html]
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