Spreading the seeds for more wildlife

The GRCF (Green Recovery Challenge Fund) Wilder Stoke Wilder Newcastle project is creating a series of new wildflower meadows across six local authority-owned parks and nature reserves in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Last summer, volunteers helped to harvest wildflower seeds from the Trust’s Bateswood Nature Reserve, near to Silverdale. The charity then worked with volunteers to spread the seeds to create new meadows at Chatterley Whitfield Heritage Park, Central Forest Park, Coyney Woods and Holden Lane Pools in Stoke-onTrent, Bateswood and Lymedale in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Councillor Trevor Johnson, Cabinet member for environment and recycling at Newcastleunder-Lyme Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted to support Staffordshire Wildlife Trust with this exciting project to improve nature, wildlife and biodiversity while also enhancing the appearance of our landscape.

“The sowing of more wildflower meadow areas, which will increase the number of local sites established in recent years, will help to offset a national decline in these important and diverse habitats while providing food and shelter for many species of wildlife. In particular, they provide essential supplies of pollen and nectar for important pollinators such as bees which play a vital role in supporting the eco-system.

“The more diversity we have in our natural habitats, then the more bees, birds, animals and other insects there will be.”

The ground preparation was carried out in the autumn, and involved cutting, baling and removing grass in specified areas across each site with currently limited habitat for wildlife.

After the ground was prepared, local native wildflower seeds were sown and the first flowers are set to begin to appear in late spring and summer this year.

Wilder Stoke, Wilder Newcastle (WSWN) is a Green Recovery Challenge Fund (GRCF) project delivered by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.

Project Manager, Liz Peck said: “These new meadows will contain hundreds of nectar-rich wildflowers, which will help to support dwindling populations of pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and moths. In turn, these insects will provide food for wildlife such as birds and bats.

“The wildflower seed mix we collected at Bateswood includes southern marsh orchids, oxeye daisy, ragged robin, common knapweed, common bird’s-foot trefoil and yellow rattle. After the ground has been prepared it may look a little bare, but next year we hope to be rewarded with lots of different wildflowers that will support many wild creatures.”

Wilder Stoke Wilder Newcastle aims to provide more diverse and resilient habitats across those sites, as well as improved access to and awareness of urban habitats.

A spokesman further explained: “This approach will lead to those habitats supporting a wider range of species in greater abundance. For example, amenity grassland is very common in urban green spaces but is either mown regularly and kept short, or left without any management at all.

“Neither provide diverse habitats, with only a handful of species present in often over-enriched soil.

“By using meadow management methods, such as taking an annual cut of hay, reintroducing wildflowers and other herb species, we can restore healthy and suitable soil conditions to produce a diverse range of flowers. This will support pollinators - insects such as butterflies, bees and hoverflies. As small birds and mammals arrive to feed on the increasing food sources, both seeds and invertebrates, eventually predators will follow such as sparrow hawks, kestrels and owls.

Community Engagement Officer Hannah Picken is working to encourage communities in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme to visit their local green spaces. Hannah reveals: “There will be plenty of activities and events for people to further explore these areas.

“Sessions will involve surveying, conservation and wild play as well as activities within schools.

“Family events such as nature trails, woodland art sessions and litter picks will take place throughout the project.

For further information about the project, go online to: www.wilderstokewildernewcastle.co.uk.