It must be this lovely sunny spring weather we’re having and days pottering in the garden that’s brought out a touch of nostalgia, but I’m convinced I used to see more wildflowers around fields, hedgerows and gardens. And the lovely, rowdy hum and twitter of insects, bees and birds used to be much louder, I’m sure.
We’re all guilty of remembering things with rose-tinted spectacles, but in this case, I think I’m right. Did you know Britain has lost around 98% of its wildflower meadows over the last 50 years? I can’t believe it’s nearly all gone! Must be time for us gardeners to do our bit, more than ever.
The trouble is, there are about 15 million gardens in the UK and counting, many of them small plots of decking and patio, so interconnecting patches of plants are few and far between.
Every little helps though, as they say, so this year I’m upping my wildflower count. I don’t have vast swathes of land to work with – just an average plot – but this won’t stop me. I’ve bought some wildflower plugs and sown little patches of wildflower seeds in spare gaps, but I’d like my many containers to froth with flowers too, so I’ve found Easy Wildflowers by Westland, which has daisies, poppies, cornflowers and corn marigold, mixed with compost to sprinkle over pots; Miracle-Gro do a good one too, called Flower Magic. If you find shade a barrier to blooms, look out for seed of campion, feverfew, wild garlic, dog violets, cranesbills and ragged robin, which all thrive in dappled shade.
Four small ways to make a big difference
Seek Single Flowers
Save Water
Help Scientists
Take Care Strimming