In 2016 I put in a wildflower meadow at the Bluecoat Junior School in Chester. A group of us revitalised the Chester Urban Wildlife Group and then put in another wildflower meadow behind Alexanders Live in Chester, sending out the following press release:
Don’t Mow – Let It Grow!
Saturday 1st July is National Meadows Day and Chester Urban Wildlife Group have much to celebrate this year with the creation of a new wildflower meadow in Chester City Centre.
Working in partnership with Alexanders Live café-bar in Rufus Court, the Chester Urban Wildlife Group have turned a neglected area of grassland at the back of the bar into a dazzling display of cornflowers, corncockle and corn marigold. Species-rich meadows were once found across much of lowland England, but since the 1940’s intensive agriculture has destroyed about 97% of this precious habitat. The remaining 8,000 hectares depend on sympathetic management such as low-intensity grazing by livestock or mowing for hay.
The Chester Urban Wildlife Group is keen to work with landowners in Chester City Centre to transform unused green spaces into colourful, vibrant meadows that help conserve wildlife and promote sustainable land management practices.
A raised wildflower bed has also been installed on the site, thanks to the support of the composite decking firm Ecodek in Wrexham. The raised bed contains a variety of native grasses and wildflowers such as Viper’s bugloss which will encourage pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies.
We can all help biodiversity in our towns and cities, either by leaving areas of unmown grass for mammals and birds, or planting native wildflowers in pots or hanging baskets.