Conservation & Ecology
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Successful wildflower establishment is dependent on quick and robust seedling growth providing competitive plant development. This method grows strong and competitive plants
Installation of Wildflower Earth
the seed is set within, you can expect quick germination and establishment. Wildflower Earth provides a great deal of
versatility with regard to seed mixes. Bespoke mixes for smaller areas are possible, particularly interest to choose a colour palette or certain native or near native mixes. It also allows the potential for locally collected seed or rare species to be used. Successful wildflower establishment is dependent on quick and robust seedling growth providing competitive plant development. This method grows strong and competitive plants, vital for successful and risk free wildflower establishment.
Which method to choose?
Whichever method is adopted, the resultant landscape will be a wildflower meadow of sorts, but the differentiators are the work and time involved, the costs, the range and diversity of species and the look and visual impact of the meadow. Expectations must be realistic. The desire for wildflower meadows
Embracing the use of modern establishment techniques will deliver reliable, risk free results that should delight all involved
” Meadow fully established four months later 108 I PC JUNE/JULY 2015
has never been greater, but the process of establishing them is always overlooked and underestimated. So, in order to satisfy all of the above criteria, adopting a modern approach to meadow making is essential. The rather historic or even romantic view of using locally collected seed sown over an existing lawn or grass sward, and then scything it once a year to maintain it, is likely to end in disappointment at best, or considerable frustration at worst! There have been many drivers that have
contributed to the resurgence of interest and demand for wildflower meadows. These include a commitment to help the environment and reverse the loss of suitable habitat for pollinators and small mammals and reptiles; the mantra of ecologists and ecology driven legislation. There is a demand from councils and new developments for low maintenance areas to cut the costs of mowing, fertilisers and pesticides. And there is a desire for beautiful wildflower meadows
for the visual and physical sense of health and wellbeing that they bring. To meet these objectives, those involved
have to be confident of achieving results that suit all of these demands. It is not good enough to have the interests of the ecologist met with species rich habitats if the species are nettles, docks, thistles and ragwort. The customer will not want this and will not be prepared to pay for it. The landscape professional demands reliable results to avoid time consuming problems and the need for remedial action. And, in this day and age, the customer wants quick, if not instant results. To satisfy these stakeholders, as well as the bees and butterflies, beautiful, nectar rich habitats are needed rapidly. Embracing the use of modern establishment techniques will deliver reliable, risk free results that should delight all involved.
www.wildflowerturf.co.uk
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