Chelsea 2011 - Meadow Anywhere

When was the last time you saw a wildflower meadow? Do you remember the lazy buzz of bees zipping through nodding flowers on a high summer’s afternoon? Have you ever seen clouds of butterflies rising in front of you as you swished through the long grass?

97% of our wildflower meadows have disappeared over the last 60 years, which is not just a tragedy for us, but also for many of the insects and birds which thrive in them. Scientists agree that the biggest threat facing butterflies and bees today in Britain is loss of habitat. Of course it’s impossible to replace a medieval meadow overnight, but you can create a lovely small version of something similar in your back garden. You will be amazed how beautiful it is and how many beneficial insects you can attract with even a small area.

We are offering a stunning seed mix of wildflowers and grasses especially selected by experts for smaller areas. You can sow it a planter or border, or next to a patio. Why is it so special? It’s a very diverse mix, containing 21 different species all native to the UK. It includes grasses, which are not only beautiful but are also important as food plants for butterflies and moths. There will be a beautiful burst of red and blue in the first year from poppies and cornflowers (and Yellow Rattle if you sow in autumn), and after that you will have colour from cowslips in spring to knapweed in September.

The packets are a super-sized 10g, or approximately 1000 seeds, which will cover 2.5 square metres and makes them exceptional value at £4.99. We donate 50p from every purchase to Butterfly Conservation and 50p to Bumblebee Conservation Trust, so you can feel doubly good about establishing a patch of wildflower meadow in your garden. Buy them here

The seeds are supplied through Habitat Aid, a social enterprise promoting conservation charities and British plants, and all have a guaranteed native provenance. We have included many beautiful and once familiar flowers in the mix, including red campion, viper’s bugloss, and birdsfoot trefoil, which are also some of the best nectar sources for bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

Over time your “micro-meadow” will develop and start to attract all sorts of pollinating insects, for whom its plant diversity and long flowering season is ideal. You might find some make it a permanent home. Common Blue, Small Copper or Meadow Brown butterflies will have the right food plants for their larvae, for example, and once they have found you they will be with you year after year. You have every chance of seeing all 6 of the most common species of bumblebee, and if you watch carefully you will also be able to spot solitary bees, and visiting honey bees if there are any hives around. You’ll see plenty of bee mimics too, particularly hoverflies.

There are complete instructions on the packet, and lots more information about meadows available at http://www.meadowanywhere.com/, or buy them at the Hillier Online Shop  here