Wildflower Meadow project
Our Wildflower Meadow Project started in 2019. It aims to restore and increase the amount of habitat available throughout the county for pollinators and wildlife.
We assessed several sites for their wildflower habitat potential and 21 sites were selected for our first-year pilot. There are now 131 managed wildflower meadow sites that contribute to our improved species richness ambitions (including our 11 roadside nature reserves). These contribute to nearly 70 acres of native wildflower habitat.
This is part of our wider Bee Friendly campaign aimed at supporting the recovery of bees and other pollinators.
Where are the wildflower meadow sites?
The wildflower meadows are spread across the entire county.
View wildflower meadow sites in Denbighshire (Map)
How are the sites managed?
The sites are left uncut between March and August, except a small border mown around each site. This allows the flowers to set seed, and ensures that the meadow provides the greatest benefit to wildlife. At the end of the season, the whole site will be cut with specialist mowing equipment, and the cuttings will be removed. This will help to lower the richness of the soil, and create the low-nutrient ground that our native wildflowers and grasses need to thrive.
Local provenance
Grass and wildflower seeds collected from areas around the county have been used to enhance our meadows. Some of the seeds have also been grown on at our tree nursery to produce plug plants. Only using local seeds ensure the plants which then grow are genetically suited to Denbighshire and will be the most beneficial to biodiversity in the area.
What does a wildflower meadow look like?
Wildflower meadows vary from site to site and usually contain a variety of native grasses and wildflowers. The wildflowers at our sites are mostly native perennial species, which return and flower each year. Wildflower meadows have a long flowering season and different species flower through the year.
Wildflower meadows sites are not pictorial meadows. Pictorial meadows are made up of mixes of plants and are often referred to as ‘wildflower meadows’. Usually pictorial meadows include many non-native species, and no grasses. Pictorial meadows provide less benefits to biodiversity and need regular, costly maintenance.
Types of wildflowers
There are many native wildflowers (flowers that naturally grow at these locations) to look out for. These will vary depending on the location and the time of year. Using a mobile app can help you identify some of the plants, flowers and grasses on our sites.
3 apps to identify wildflowers on your phone (plantlife.org.uk) (external website)
Gallery
View a gallery of Denbighshire's wildflower meadows
Why do we need more wildflower meadows?
Since the 1930s, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadow habitats. That's nearly 7.5 million acres, with just 1% of our countryside now providing this vital home for pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
This has impacted the wildlife that relies on these meadows for food and shelter such as hedgehogs, badgers and hares, as well as birds such as the Lapwing, Meadow Pipit and Skylark.
Having more wildflower meadows is an important step in helping to reverse the decline and increase species richness.
Video: Wildflower Meadow Project - Animal Support (YouTube) (external website)
Other benefits of meadows
- Flood prevention
- Local cooling
- Reducing pollution
- Creates mixed habitats in a local area
- Creates a food source and shelter for pollinators and other animals along with habitat connectivity, supporting nature recovery
How you can help
You can help with the Wildflower Meadow Project by leaving areas to grow wild, such as a section of your own garden. Garden lawns can become major sources of much needed nectar for pollinators.