Volunteers wanted - wildflower planting

Wildflower meadows are one of nature’s most bountiful larders, producing enough food to support large numbers of insects, who go on to pollinate other plants - or perhaps become an airborne snack for a hungry bird or mammal. (Each one of the park’s resident bats and visiting swifts or swallows needs to eat thousands of insects a day).

Meadows also look fantastic, transforming the dullest patch of grass into swathes of colourful flowers. This autumn, we need your help to get a new meadow started in our park. The site, near the play area, has been chosen to be visible for people to enjoy, without getting in the way of walkers and other park users.

Photo: Lucy Masters

Can you volunteer for one or more of our work parties?

Read on for dates and details. Sign up here or just turn up on the day.

Wildflowers grow best in thin or poor soils. The site is currently covered in long grass, which is better for wildlife than short, but not of itself top-quality habitat (are you doing ‘No Mow May’ or other nature-friendly actions in your garden? Tell us about it here!). Our goal is to turbo-charge the area with fantastic native flowers like oxeye daisies, field poppies and cornflowers. Once established, we hope the meadow will increase insect numbers, and inspire park visitors to plant wildflowers in their own gardens too.

Our first job is to reduce the fertility, by cutting and removing the grass, before turning over the turf on the meadow site. This suppresses grass regrowth, giving the new plants a chance to put their roots down. Then for the fun stuff. We’ll be putting in plug plants and scattering seed to create a wonderful native wildflower mix. Join us for all or any of it!

Work Party Dates

All work takes place on the meadow site (plan.firm.swaps - What3Words). As you enter from the main car park on Oldbury Court Road, walk onto the field and pass the play area on your right. The meadow is close to the football field beyond that.

#1. Brush Cut or ‘Super Strim' (Friday 27th September, 10am-1pm)

Using a brush cutter (a machine like a large strimmer), our contractor will chop back the grass and existing vegetation. Volunteers will then rake up and remove the cuttings. It is important to do this, because any grass left behind will rot down over winter and fertilize the soil, discouraging wildflowers.

Light to medium work but on a slippery and uneven surface. May be muddy! Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

#2. Turf Cut & Turn (Friday 4th Oct, 10am-3pm)

A turf cutting machine will remove the top surface of the soil creating long rolls of turf (if you’ve ever bought turf for your garden, this machine is what created the rolls). Volunteers will cut the turf into short lengths, before turning it over and stamping it down. Although the ground will look bare at first, this technique is a fast track way of getting the site meadow-ready.

Physically demanding, involving heavy lifting from low level on an unstable, possibly slippery surface. Great work out, could be very muddy! Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

#3. The Big Sow (Sunday 13th Oct, 10am-3pm)

Volunteers will rake over the soil surface, before sowing wildflower seed. We will need to walk over the site to help the seeds get good contact with the soil. We are also sourcing plug plants of native wildflower species. Volunteers will dig small holes for these, before planting.

Light to medium work but on a slippery and uneven surface. May be muddy! Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

Backstory

Sadly the majority of English wildflower meadows have been lost in the last 50 years to intensive farming and development. The good news is that meadow making groups are popping up in communities like ours, restoring these amazing grasslands for the benefit of wildlife and people alike.

Inspired by other meadow projects along the Frome Valley (for instance, in Winterbourne and Frenchay), Friends of the Park secured a grant from the Wessex Water Environment Fund to buy young plants and seeds.

It all kicks off this autumn, with the work parties above. We hope you can be part of it!