English Heritage has pledged to create and enhance one hundred meadows at its historic sites across England, in celebration of the coronation of King Charles III. Partnering with Plantlife, a leading charity dedicated to protecting wild plants and fungi, English Heritage aims to create a natural legacy by establishing flower-rich grasslands across the country over the coming decade.
This initiative is particularly important, as the UK has lost around 95% of its meadows since the 1930s, due to post-war modern farming practices. The grassland surrounding English Heritage's historical monuments has also been affected, diminishing the botanical diversity enjoyed by previous generations. By creating and enhancing wildflower grasslands, not only will nature benefit, but healthy grasslands are proven to tackle pollution and permanently lock away atmospheric carbon below ground.
“The King’s coronation is a significant moment in history and we wanted to mark it in a meaningful way, in a way that combines two of His Majesty’s passions – nature and heritage. We’re creating more natural spaces at the heart of our historic properties, ensuring that wildflowers and wildlife can flourish there once again, and helping our visitors to step back into history and experience something with which the sites’ historic occupants would have been familiar.” - Kate Mavor, English Heritage’s Chief Executive
Plantlife will support this initiative by providing resources and expertise, as well as working with local communities around each of the meadow sites. By sourcing seed from existing meadows in the area, English Heritage will reintroduce viable, local species of wildflower to each site, benefiting wildlife and providing a more authentic experience for its visitors.
The meadow project will take place at a range of English Heritage sites, including Stonehenge, Charles Darwin's house, and London's Jewel Tower. Other sites involved in the project include Barnard Castle in County Durham, Okehampton Castle in Devon, and Walmer Castle in Kent.
Wildflowers provide bees, butterflies and other pollinators with food throughout the year. On a single day in summer, one acre of wildflower meadow can contain 3 million flowers, producing 1 kg of nectar sugar. That's enough to support nearly 96,000 honey bees per day - wwf.org
We can all play a part in supporting biodiversity by creating our own wildflower meadows or pollinator-friendly borders using wildflower seeds or plants. Even a small patch of unmown grass in a garden or community space can provide valuable habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Those without a garden can still get involved by supporting local initiatives to protect wildflower meadows or buying produce from farmers who use sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices. By taking these steps, individuals can help to create a network of interconnected habitats that will support pollinators and other wildlife, even in urban areas.
By creating a natural legacy at historic sites across England, English Heritage and Plantlife hope to encourage local communities to get involved and help transform their local heritage sites into flower-rich meadows. The project will enhance a unique range of landscapes, from damp acid grasslands to dry chalk grasslands with shallow soils, enhancing local character as well as biodiversity.
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