Wildflower Meadows – give biodiversity a boost
Now is the perfect time to plant wildflower meadows or lay wildflower turf
There are many reasons we love wildflowers, and here are just a few:
- Installing Wildflower is a cost-effective landscaping solutions as it reduces maintenance requirements once established, requiring only 1-2 cuts per annum. In addition to maintenance saving, wildflower meadows are also cost-effective as the seed heads can be saved following the flowering period / dried out and re-used to enhance any sparse areas or used across other areas in the landscape as a wildflower meadow.
- Wildflowers provide fantastic forage for pollinators. We use specific seed blends curated solely for pollinators which provide seasonal forage – however we include many species which can be of great use for pollinators throughout the year to improve longevity.
- Wildflowers can be installed to provide immediate visual effect by using instant wildflower turf, however although this is extremely effective it will increase costs. The other option for meadow creation is to use seed mixes, this is extremely economical although will take 1-2 years to establish if installing from new/fresh blank canvas or longer term if seeding within existing grassland to enrich areas into a meadow not amenity lawn.
- Including wildflower in landscaping scheme adds a significant boost to biodiversity net gain calculations (BNG)
- Aesthetically pleasing – a blanket of flowers – who doesn’t like that? Humans and wildlife alike.
Here at dB Landscape Management we are working actively with leading horticulturists such as Kew (Wakehurst) on improving our knowledge on such maters like transforming amenity grasslands to native wildflower meadows for longer term sustainability, biodiversity net gains and cost-effective measures.
We have found that spring and autumn provide the best seasons to execute preparation and installation of wildflower meadows. This is due to average temperatures at this time of year to enable germination. Also the moisture content within the ground during spring and late autumn will reduce the expense of the initial management of wildflower seeding / instant wildflower turf laying which is expensive in terms of time and resources during the peak summer periods.
Although any soil ground condition can be transferred to wildflower, the most optimum conditions are that of poor nutrient inert soils. Should any ground condition have existing rich soils, this can be addressed with suitable soil preparation and introduction of lower nutrient soil to balance out for the a higher chance of success.
Why not take the leap and install wildflowers in your landscapes this year? Get in touch, we can assist.
(Image Credit Wildflower Turf)
Managing Landscapes for improved biodiversity
Landscaping tasks to promote biodiversity
During our landscaping maintenance works we encourage property managers and facilities managers to take measures to enhance biodiversity in the landscapes surrounding their properties. With this in mind here are just some of the landscaping tasks that can promote biodiversity:
1. Habitat restoration:
Habitat loss is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, so restoring habitats that have been degraded or destroyed can be a very effective way to promote biodiversity. This can include reforestation, wetland restoration, and grassland restoration.
2. Ecological succession management:
Many ecosystems go through a process of ecological succession, in which different plant and animal communities successively colonize an area over time. By understanding and managing this
process, it is possible to promote the development of diverse and resilient ecosystems.
3. Connectivity enhancement:
Habitat fragmentation can make it difficult for species to move between different areas, so enhancing connectivity between different habitats can be an important way to promote biodiversity. This can include creating wildlife corridors, restoring riparian areas, and connecting fragmented habitats. The bee lines initiative from Bug life is an excellent example of this.
4. Invasive species management:
Invasive species can outcompete and displace native species, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Managing invasive species through techniques such as manual control, as well as introducing
natural predators, is important in promoting biodiversity.
Japanese Knot Weed
5. Monitoring and research:
Biodiversity can be complex and dynamic, so monitoring and research are essential to understanding how it is changing over time and what actions can be taken to promote it. This can include
monitoring changes in species distribution and abundance, as well as studying the ecological interactions between different species.
6. Collaboration and education:
Collaboration with local communities, organizations, and other stakeholders is key for achieving long-term conservation success. It is also important to educate the public about the
importance of biodiversity, and how they can help to promote it.
It is important to note that any actions taken towards this aim must be based on scientific evidence and best practices. Also, it is important to have a clear understanding of the ecosystem processes, the species that inhabit the area, and the environmental laws and regulations in place. With this, a comprehensive and adaptive management plan must be implemented, continuously evaluated and adjusted as needed to integrate into landscape management plans to enhance the landscapes of the future.
We enlist specialists to create a biodiversity action plan (BAP) for our clients, giving a clear pathway to follow to truly enhance landscapes over a period of time to get real results.
