News / bristol city council
Bristol City Council announces wildflower plans for parks
The council has issued a proposal for new lowland meadow areas to be created within Bristol’s parks across the city.
The meadows will be wildflower-rich to support native plants, pollinators and other wildlife.
The plans are said to form part of the commitment to manage 30% of council land for nature by 2030, as outlined in the One City Ecological Emergency Strategy published in 2020.
is needed now More than ever
Lowland meadows, concentrated areas of wildflowers and biodiverse grassland that contain many different types of plant, have declined by 97% nationally since 1935.
It is hoped the new meadows will help to address the ecological emergency which has driven swathes of species to significant decline and even extinction through habitat destruction and climate change.
The plan suggests some of the lesser used spaces in parks will be re-purposed to establish the new habitats.
Marley Bennett, cabinet member for Climate and Ecology, said: “Once established, these meadow areas would be left uncut until late summer to allow them to grow, flower and set seed.”
Following mowing, the cut material will be collected and removed to help to lower certain nutrients in the soil, creating the necessary conditions for the wildflowers to compete with more vigorous grasses and leading to a greater variety of flowers.
Lowland meadows are proposed for areas of Eastville Park including Everest Road, Redhill Drive, Eastville Park South and Wickham View
The areas under proposal include parts of Eastville Park, Dundridge Farm playing fields, Arnos Court park, Witchurch Green and Gores Marsh Park.
Some members of the public have already responded publicly to welcome the proposals while suggesting the council could improve their record on ecology by protecting existing areas of biodiversity.
Bristol Tree Forum tweeted: “There are many depleted meadows of rare calcareous grassland in Bristol – the Western and Northern Slopes and Brislington meadows…not to mention the recently damaged meadows at Yew Tree Farm – all in urgent need of restoration”.
The council is inviting responses to the proposal until April 12. To submit a response visit www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/BristolMeadows/
This piece of independent journalism is supported by the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.
Photos: Ursula Billington
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