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[Misc] Wildflower Meadow advice.



Green Cross Code Man

Green Cross Code Man

Wunt be druv
Mar 30, 2006
20,927
Eastbourne
I am considering bidding for a £1000 grant for my school that is aimed at some sort of rewilding project. The area I have in mind is an irregular shape and roughly 20x20m. I wonder about a wildflower meadow, for which I understand I'd need to pay a contractor to remove the grass (it's part of the school field. Then I could either use annuals, or perennials or a mix. I like the idea of a mix as there would be greater sustainability and I hope less interference necessary.

One thing that concerns me though is the limited nature of the display being that most plants will flower from late spring until the end of summer. And some of that time will be when the kids are off for summer holidays. But my understanding is that a lot of the meadow plants are spent by August anyway.

Are there complimentary UK bushes that would provide more interest and structure across the seasons maybe? I don't want anything that will cast a lot of shade as that would be to the detriment of the flowers.

Any advice or correction for misconception would be gratefully received, I know there are a few people here with experience and wisdom!
 






Green Cross Code Man

Green Cross Code Man

Wunt be druv
Mar 30, 2006
20,927
Eastbourne
schmunk said:
Pay a contractor? Surely this is perfect Grounds Day activity for the keen-but-unskilled dads...?
Click to expand...
It's a good point, but there is always a risk involving parents. One is that the support sometimes peters away and the other litigation resulting from injury. We also, as a school, require any visiting adults who are working at the school, to have DBS checks. All this makes it more trouble than it's worth.

Modern life eh.
 


Tom Hark Preston Park

Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash
Jul 6, 2003
72,976
Green Cross Code Man said:
I am considering bidding for a £1000 grant for my school that is aimed at some sort of rewilding project. The area I have in mind is an irregular shape and roughly 20x20m. I wonder about a wildflower meadow, for which I understand I'd need to pay a contractor to remove the grass (it's part of the school field. Then I could either use annuals, or perennials or a mix. I like the idea of a mix as there would be greater sustainability and I hope less interference necessary.

One thing that concerns me though is the limited nature of the display being that most plants will flower from late spring until the end of summer. And some of that time will be when the kids are off for summer holidays. But my understanding is that a lot of the meadow plants are spent by August anyway.

Are there complimentary UK bushes that would provide more interest and structure across the seasons maybe? I don't want anything that will cast a lot of shade as that would be to the detriment of the flowers.

Any advice or correction for misconception would be gratefully received, I know there are a few people here with experience and wisdom!
Click to expand...
Preston Park went through a phase of planting fields of wild flowers, tho they sadly seem to not do it anymore. Shame, it was pretty damn glorious, as per photo below. Reckon @jevs and @Jack Straw are your go-to experts here

Screenshot_20250113_123755_Facebook.jpg
 


Rdodge30

Rdodge30

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2022
928
I know a visitor centre a few years back who spent quite heavily putting cowslips in a meadow the size of a football pitch, the first year they were devastated with only a dozen or so but every year since it’s an absolute carpet of yellow, quite spectacular.

Good luck with your endeavour it will be worthwhile
 




Weststander

Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
70,532
Withdean area
It will peak June and July, the kids will get to see it in its pomp.

I wouldn't waste money on a contractor, it's very doable by a handful of people or less, that's not a large size. I'm converting a similar area on my own.

The effort is mowing down to very low at the beginning of the process, and mowing or scything, then clearing (critical) each August.

People add interest now by planting random other perennials/bulbs, extending the season. At Arundel Castle they do this with Tulips and Camassia. It depends on the school's soil type and soil moisture.

When seeding, adding enough Yellow-Rattle seeds (not cheap), will give the meadow a chance to beat perennial grasses and plantains. Otherwise they'll end up dominating.
 


H

horshamite

Now Saltdeanite.
Nov 16, 2010
503
I'm not sure (ie i don't know!) if creating a wildflower meadow in the manner you suggested would meet the criteria for a 'rewilding' grant. There is a significant difference between the two.
 


Cordwainer

Cordwainer

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2023
646
Green Cross Code Man said:
I am considering bidding for a £1000 grant for my school that is aimed at some sort of rewilding project. The area I have in mind is an irregular shape and roughly 20x20m. I wonder about a wildflower meadow, for which I understand I'd need to pay a contractor to remove the grass (it's part of the school field. Then I could either use annuals, or perennials or a mix. I like the idea of a mix as there would be greater sustainability and I hope less interference necessary.

One thing that concerns me though is the limited nature of the display being that most plants will flower from late spring until the end of summer. And some of that time will be when the kids are off for summer holidays. But my understanding is that a lot of the meadow plants are spent by August anyway.

Are there complimentary UK bushes that would provide more interest and structure across the seasons maybe? I don't want anything that will cast a lot of shade as that would be to the detriment of the flowers.

Any advice or correction for misconception would be gratefully received, I know there are a few people here with experience and wisdom!
Click to expand...
A great idea I think. Did read something a while back about considering where you live, what native plants/wildflowers etc occur naturally and seeking to replicate those rather than chucking in a random wildflower mix..maybe worth getting in contact with your local wildlife trust as well? Hope it’s successful if you go ahead with it..and if so be great to see some progress photos.
 




Jack Straw

Jack Straw

I look nothing like him!
Jul 7, 2003
7,170
Brighton. NOT KEMPTOWN!
Green Cross Code Man said:
I am considering bidding for a £1000 grant for my school that is aimed at some sort of rewilding project. The area I have in mind is an irregular shape and roughly 20x20m. I wonder about a wildflower meadow, for which I understand I'd need to pay a contractor to remove the grass (it's part of the school field. Then I could either use annuals, or perennials or a mix. I like the idea of a mix as there would be greater sustainability and I hope less interference necessary.

One thing that concerns me though is the limited nature of the display being that most plants will flower from late spring until the end of summer. And some of that time will be when the kids are off for summer holidays. But my understanding is that a lot of the meadow plants are spent by August anyway.

Are there complimentary UK bushes that would provide more interest and structure across the seasons maybe? I don't want anything that will cast a lot of shade as that would be to the detriment of the flowers.

Any advice or correction for misconception would be gratefully received, I know there are a few people here with experience and wisdom!
Click to expand...
Is the area in question on chalk? I assume around Eastbourne, you will be. If you're not sure, dig a few test-holes in different parts of the area to find out, and see how deep the top soil is. To produce a good wild flower environment, you need impoverished soil, so you may need to get rid of a depth of soil as well as the grass, down to the chalk, a 5 minute job with a mini-digger! The reasoning behind this is that grasses will struggle while the wild-flowers will tolerate these conditions. I've found chalk with a soil content (sub-soil), gives better results than bare chalk, which can take ages for the plants to establish. Should your test-holes show that the top soil is really deep, it would probably be best just to remove the grass with a couple of inches of soil and go with that.
If you go for seeding, wild-flower mixes tend to come with annuals mixed in, to give colour for the first year, as the perennials won't produce flowers until at least the second year.
However, your grant may enable to you buy "plugs", which should flower the first year. This is a good way to get things going quickly, and perhaps the pupils at your school could get involved with the planting? If you're on chalk, chalk downland plugs are obviously what you want. A chap called Johnny Gapper used to grow these from locally sourced seeds, in a little poly-house at Stanmer Nurseries. I don't know if he or anyone else still does, but there will be other places to buy them from.
As for shrubs, a few native specie hedging plants would do the job, either dotted about or indeed create a hedge on the boundary? They can always be cut back if they get too big.
If and when this project goes ahead, water everything regularly for the first year for the best future results.
Very good luck with this. Photos of progress always much appreciated.
 


Weststander

Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
70,532
Withdean area
horshamite said:
I'm not sure (ie i don't know!) if creating a wildflower meadow in the manner you suggested would meet the criteria for a 'rewilding' grant. There is a significant difference between the two.
Click to expand...

They're also adding European Bison and Lynx.
 


Weststander

Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
70,532
Withdean area
Cordwainer said:
A great idea I think. Did read something a while back about considering where you live, what native plants/wildflowers etc occur naturally and seeking to replicate those rather than chucking in a random wildflower mix..maybe worth getting in contact with your local wildlife trust as well? Hope it’s successful if you go ahead with it..and if so be great to see some progress photos.
Click to expand...

About 20 or 25 years ago the Natural History Museum built an incredibly detailed, free online database, based on exactly that. You only had to enter the first part of your postcode, I printed out their "Native flora recorded from postal district BN1" list, I still have it. Then they removed the resource.

These days professional gardeners appear less precious about that in garden settings, on the basis that flowers from elsewhere such as the Balkans can also be great for fauna. Thing evolve with climate change.

But meeting the aspect you mention in broad terms, seed suppliers have options for differing environments.

Complete Seed Mixtures - Emorsgate Seeds

Complete Seed Mixtures Created and Wild Harvested Mixtures comprising Wild Flowers and Grasses Search Complete MixturesSearch Keyword Categories All categories Complete Mixtures Brush Harvested Meadow Mixtures Cornfield Annuals General Purpose Meadow Mixtures Meadow Mixtures for...
wildseed.co.uk wildseed.co.uk
 




Cordwainer

Cordwainer

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2023
646
Weststander said:
About 20 or 25 years ago the Natural History Museum built an incredibly detailed, free online database, based on exactly that. You only had to enter the first part of your postcode, I printed out their "Native flora recorded from postal district BN1" list, I still have it. Then they removed the resource.

These days professional gardeners appear less precious about that in garden settings, on the basis that flowers from elsewhere such as the Balkans can also be great for fauna. Thing evolve with climate change.

But meeting the aspect you mention in broad terms, seed suppliers have options for differing environments.

Complete Seed Mixtures - Emorsgate Seeds

Complete Seed Mixtures Created and Wild Harvested Mixtures comprising Wild Flowers and Grasses Search Complete MixturesSearch Keyword Categories All categories Complete Mixtures Brush Harvested Meadow Mixtures Cornfield Annuals General Purpose Meadow Mixtures Meadow Mixtures for...
wildseed.co.uk wildseed.co.uk
Click to expand...
Sounds like that was an excellent resource and a shame that it’s no longer available. I don’t know a great deal about garden plants..but in our garden the Salvia is by far and away the bees favourite.
 


Weststander

Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
70,532
Withdean area
Cordwainer said:
Sounds like that was an excellent resource and a shame that it’s no longer available. I don’t know a great deal about garden plants..but in our garden the Salvia is by far and away the bees favourite.
Click to expand...

Fantastic perennial. Solitary bees loved our Amistad all the way up to Xmas.

Do you live on what would've been the South or North Downs, on chalk?
 










Cordwainer

Cordwainer

Well-known member
Jul 30, 2023
646
Weststander said:
I could post you a copy of the NHM list. But be forewarned it runs to many pages, they covered all bases.
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That’s very kind but don’t worry thanks. My BiL lives on a small holding in Hants and has a huge collection of wildflower seeds etc which I’ll be availing myself of next time I’m over there! Think he’s been planting up especially to encourage the small blue butterfly and it’s showing early promise.
 


Weststander

Weststander

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Aug 25, 2011
70,532
Withdean area
Cordwainer said:
That’s very kind but don’t worry thanks. My BiL lives on a small holding in Hants and has a huge collection of wildflower seeds etc which I’ll be availing myself of next time I’m over there! Think he’s been planting up especially to encourage the small blue butterfly and it’s showing early promise.
Click to expand...

We had a few Chalk Hill Blue's last summer, they appeared to love Hazel's in our wildlife hedge.
 








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