Meadow Refresh for Wildlife

Re – introduced plant life has helped restore a declining wildlife meadow following a joint enterprise between a residents’ association and a council contractor with help from some students.

Grange Linear Park on the edge of Allendale Road received a boost of 2000 plugs of flowers typically common to hay fields that have largely disappeared across the country. Charnwood Borough Council’s outdoor space contractor idVerde joined with Haddon Way Residents’ Association and students to implement the planting over two weeks in April.

New growth blooms including lady’s bedstraw, ox – eye daisy, bird’s foot trefoil, cowslip and lady’s smock; replenishing an area mostly declining over the last decade.

All support a wealth of wildlife including bees, butterflies, foxes, bats and birds. Spiders such as Agroeca brunnea, also known as the fairy lamp spider for its large white egg sack now visible at Grange Linear Park and speckled wood butterflies have been spotted alongside other flowers such as cranesbill, red clover, yarrow, knapweed and vetches.

Id Verde community engagement officer Nicola Clarke said the wildflowers are essential to supporting wildlife including insects such as bees and butterflies and small mammals and birds.

“Grass is invasive and this meadow, planted around ten years ago was taken over by it so this latest round of putting in plant plugs common to local hayfields such as lady’s smock, oxeye daisy, cowslip and lady’s bedstraw strengthens the ecosystem,” said Nicola.

She explained a mostly grass environment is too nutrient – rich for wildflowers to survive as they need unstable environments otherwise it’s too competitive for them and only a few species dominate.

A single healthy meadow can support over one hundred different species of flowers.

97 per cent of the UK’s ancient wildflower meadows have disappeared as towns and cities expand and farming practices change, particularly since WW11. Intensive farming with high use of pesticides and fertilisers mostly caused this decline over the last century. Farmers are now encouraged to do more to sustain them and Grange Linear Park, next to Grange Retail Park creates a pleasant oasis for residents of the adjacent estate.

Dave from Rothley came on a date to plant the new flowers with his girlfriend, a teacher from Nottingham. He said they are keen to learn how they can do more to support the environment. “We’ve been seeing each other for nine months and like to get together for eco – activity,” said Dave.