Our first contribution to the River of Flowers project was to plant spring bulbs and sow wildflower seed along Common Lane, with the help of youngsters from Whittington school and Wildlife Kate.
We have been so pleased with the results: everyone enjoyed the crocuses, narcissus and camassias in spring. But the best bit was definitely the meadow flowering this summer with masses of yellow rattle, ox-eye daisies, poppies, cornflowers and corncockle.
On 14th August, the River of Flowers work party scythed the meadow in traditional style, and took the mowing away so that even more flowers will be encouraged next year.
The next steps for the project will be preparing the wildflower meadow areas at Swan Park and Swan Croft in September. We also hope to get the new planters installed along Main Street to liven up the village’s main thoroughfare with colourful, and wildlife-friendly, planting during the autumn and winter.
Everyone can join in the RoF scheme by making their garden wildlife-friendly all-year round.
With that in mind, we will be selling a lovely choice of beautiful bee-friendly bulbs (at great prices) on our stall at the Countryside Fair, on Saturday 3rd September. Do come along – you’ll find lots of choice with early-flowering crocuses, anemones and chionodoxa, summer stalwarts like alliums and foxtail lilies, shade-lovers such as dogs-tooth violets and star-of- Bethlehem, and much much more.
