Sow seeds of a new generation
Create a mini meadow in your own back garden, says LOUISE MIDGLEY
BACK at the start of the First World War, the countryside was awash with flower-rich meadows and grasslands that supported farmland birds, small mammals and all manner of insects.today a mere fraction remains; 7.5 million acres of wildflower meadows have been lost to intensive farming and building developments and the knock-on effect to all forms of wildlife has been catastrophic.
Species-rich grassland now only covers around 1 per cent of the UK’S land and even that is in fragmented sections.
On a positive note, pocket-sized meadows have begun to spring up in domestic gardens across the country, in an attempt by British gardeners to make their outdoor spaces more wildlife friendly. Indeed, social media platforms are filled with images of mini meadows in various shapes and sizes from narrow strips to large blocks.
According to the natural gardening brand Empathy, sales of its Mini Meadow Wild Flower Seed with rootgrow have rocketed over the past two years with more than 127,000 packs being sold, which is enough seed to cover 128 acres with wild flowers.
This success story can in part be attributed to the work of conservation charities such as Plantlife, which works tirelessly to save threatened meadow grasslands and create new ones.their message to try and dedicate at least a small part of our gardens to bolstering wildlife has definitely got through.
“The colour, structure and scent provided by native wild flowers in a garden is a joy to behold and something every gardener should consider,” says Dr Trevor Dines, botanical specialist of Plantlife. “Their appeal is so much more than aesthetic and practical: wildlife intrinsically relies on wild flowers to survive and flourish.
“Opening your garden to the glories of native wildflowers is an act of love, especially those that are declining rapidly in the wild.
“There has never been a more important time to embrace and foster the wild in your own garden.”
Before embarking on a meadow project, it’s important to understand that there are two types of meadows; perennial and annual, both of which need free draining soil and a situation in full sun.
Perennial meadows flourish on fairly poor soil and the plants they support reappear each year.
This kind of meadow can be difficult to establish in an average UK garden, but not impossible with the right knowledge.
The easier option is the annual meadow because the mix of plants are happier in richer soil, making them a good choice for a reclaimed border in a small to medium sized garden. For best results, replant each year with fresh seed.