Salisbury misses out on wildflower transformation

Inside Salisbury: A rewilding and biodiversity loss for Salisbury

By Annette J Beveridge

by Annette J Beveridge

SIX sites have been chosen to be transformed into grassland habitats with an array of wildflower seeds but Salisbury has missed out.

Rewilding and wildflower areas encourage bees and other pollinators and help wildlife to thrive. In just one square metre, wildflower meadows can have up to 40 species. These sites are therefore invaluable for butterflies, moths, bats, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and spiders.

Approximately 97% of wildflower meadows has been lost since the 1930s and the chosen sites will be planted with wildflower seeds and approximately15,000 wildflower plugs. Some areas will be left to rewild while others will be chosen to promote the growth of wildflowers.

The chosen sites include:

• College Fields, Marlborough

• Harvard Close, Melksham

• Falcon Way/Hurricane Way, Melksham

• Fore St, Warminster

• Portway Lane North and South, Warminster

• Fieldways Hilperton

The benefits of rewilding

Rewilding enables natural ecosystems to thrive without much human intervention and wildflowers areas, in addition to being beautiful, are vital habits for mammals, insects, and birds.

Soil is also healthier without pesticide use and as wildflowers hold onto carbon, these sites will help to combat flooding as plants hold onto rainwater.

In a recent post, Wiltshire Council stated that all towns and parish councils were contacted to see if they wished to nominate an area but this did not include Salisbury as Wiltshire Council does not carry out grounds maintenance here.

Salisbury City Council has been approached for comment.

Do you have any news you would like to share? Please send an email to: contact@insidesalisbury.uk