Urban Meadows Swindon

14/03/2013

Here's a great blog. If you fancy a bit of urban meadow making this spring, have a look at this.

http://plantameadow.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/step-by-step-guide-how-where-and-when-to-plant-a-meadow/

What is a meadow? A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants (grassland). The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture, a meadow is grassland which is not gra...

11/03/2013

Velvet lawns have no appeal to most wildlife. Why not go a little wild in your garden this year and turn it into a mini nature reserve?

A beautiful place to spend time with your loved ones!

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Wildlife-and-the-gardener/Mimic-the-countryside

Wildlife and the gardener, ways to help support the wildlife in your garden

10/03/2013

Fancy making a fantastic Bee house, Hotel, or even a City?
This page is the most well explained and informative that I've seen!

Before you go spending your hard earned cash at the garden centre, give this a read.

http://www.foxleas.com/bee_house.htm

How to make a 'bee hotel' to house solitary bees, Mason Bees, Leafcutter Bees.

08/03/2013

Thank you to Swindon 105.5 for hosting our very own Linda Knight, speaking about the many benefits of making your garden wildlife friendly. Hedgehogs can climb gates, But they look silly when they try, so do leave a gap or two in your fences!

19/02/2013

Thank you to Flowers and Butterflies for providing a couple of young Purging Buckthorn bushes (so named for the laxative effect of the berries when eaten!)
They were planted in a quiet but prominent corner of Stanton Park, next to a public footpath.

Pictures later in the year!

13/02/2013

Met up with a senior member of Swindon's Grounds Team to discuss the potential for a 'bee friendly' bedding scheme today.

He was very helpful, giving me a copy of the current plant list, and also all of the sites around Swindon including parks, roundabouts, public gardens and central reservations, included in the Town's bedding scheme.

We talked about some of the limits that exist in what we can achieve such as satisfying the needs of clients, keeping to a strict budget and engaging with the public adequately.

So... the next task is to take the plant list given to us and find like for like plants that offer nectar and/or pollen, without increasing the cost...

If there are any Botanists/Horticulturalists out there that might like to help.. Get in touch! :)

04/02/2013

There will be bee friendly flowers in the planters at Stanton Park this summer! Provided by TWIGS (Therapeutic Work In Gardening Swindon) They'll be providing pollen and nectar as well as their beauty, appealing to visitors of all sizes and species.

03/02/2013

During our recent meeting with councillors it was nice to see potential, especially regarding local authority interest, but interest is not enough and it remained unclear what commitments councillors were willing to make, if any... Positive action is needed and it must be supported by them. We will press on...

03/02/2013

We attended a meeting/walkabout with some of Swindon's top Councillors on Friday, including Leader of the Council, Rod Bluh and Parliamentary representative, Justin Tomlinson. We visited a number of sites around the Town where wildflower projects are taking place, and it was good to know that improving the urban environment is on the Council's agenda.

31/01/2013

It seems like forever since we updated, but you better believe we've not been hibernating (much!)
The snowdrops have been out in force and spring is on the horizon and we've been busy.. Setting up some plug planting sessions for later in the year with volunteers (more info to come), organising some public talks on Biodiversity at Stanton Country Park (more info to come) and piloting a scheme to plant orchards in Swindon Schools. We'll also be meeting up with a couple of Swindon's top Councillors tomorrow for a chat about wildlife conservation in the Borough.. very exciting stuff.

29/10/2012

A celebration of nature with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust!!

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reached a milestone 50 years on 23rd July 2012!To celebrate this event and the fact that the Trust and its staff and...