More wonderful wildflowers in warmer months ahead

Spring is almost here and Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Wildflower and Grasslands Strategy, that saw the creation of beautiful native wildflower meadows across the borough will continue to be delivered this year.

There were over 130 mini wildflower meadows, which means around 32,000 square metres of wildlife habitat was created.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Councillor Matt Bryan said: “After dark and cold January, this really gives us all something to look forward to in the warmer months.  Last year’s displays were incredibly beautiful, as well as giving pollinators, like bees, a much-needed boost.

“We received many marvellous compliments and comments from residents, who saw the meadows in their communities and appreciated the hard work of the teams who created them.

“In one area, near to the A41, where previously there had been no wildlife, we were pleased to see a family of voles had settled in, thanks to the wildflower planting.”

Councillors worked with their communities to decide on the locations for the native wildflower meadows and officers from StreetCare and the Your Streets teams created them.

Training was also given to seven parish council and ‘Friends of’ groups to create and sustainably manage wildflowers in their wards.

As part of the project the Council also entered into a partnership with Chester Zoo and various other environmental bodies to help deliver the Zoo’s Nature Recovery Corridor project.

A successful funding application to the Green Recovery Challenge Fund via the partnership with Chester Zoo resulted in the Council receiving £50,000 for machinery to help deliver its Wildflower and Grasslands strategy.  This enabled the purchase of a tractor and stone burier for seed sowing.

Councillor Bryan added: “Phase two of the project is on the way and will see even more meadows appearing in all parts of the borough.  I’m really looking forward to seeing bigger, even better results for our Wildflower and Grasslands Strategy this summer.”

All existing and phase two meadows are now being data mapped into a Geographic Information System and later this year the information will be available on the Council’s website.

Pictured - Native wildflower meadows attracted new wildlife.