Wildflower meadows to increase borough’s buzz
Investment to encourage bees and biodiversity to flourish
‘Each generation experiences dwindling numbers of bees, butterflies and birds’
By Tom Pyman @TomPymanKM Almost £10,000 is set to be spent on increasing the buzz around Maidstone - as plans to create eight new meadows for bees to thrive in have been revealed.
Councillors are considering setting up the “pollinator friendly” wildflower and grassland areas, which they say would increase biodiversity and make the County Town a greener and more attractive place to live and work.
Grovewood Drive North, Shepway Green, Parkwood Recreation Ground, South Park, Dickens Road, Bearsted Road, Gatland Recreation Road and an area near the Thai Orchid restaurant have been earmarked as potential sites for the project, which add up to a collective area of around a hectare, or two-anda-half acres.
A council report on the proposal described “an often reported sadness that each generation experiences a dwindling number of butterflies, bees and birds compared to those who have gone before”.
It added that wildflower mead- ows provide a source of nectar and cover for a wide variety of insects, which in turn create good conditions for birds, bats and grassland homes for reptiles and small mammals.
It is also hoped it will allow children to get involved and learn more about the benefits of look- ing after the environment, with more understanding and appreciation of wildlife and wildflowers.
The report added: “Making a clear and positive statement of Maidstone Borough Council’s intent for biodiversity goes hand in hand with pride in our borough and the social and eco- nomic benefits that our parks and open spaces offer our residents.”
The Royal Horticultural Society, which runs the famous Chelsea Flower Show, describes wildflower meadows as an alternative to lawns and borders.
Sites would require ground preparation in early spring next year with sowing of meadow mixes of grasses, perennials and annual wildflowers, with flowering at its peak in the summer months.
The proposals suggest spending £7,000 on ground preparation, £1,050 on seed sowing and £1,400 on the supply of seed.
The scheme, due to be discussed on Tuesday, is only a pilot proposal at this stage, but could be extended to more areas around the borough if successful.