Boosting wildflowers across Milton Keynes with 200kg of seed
Large amounts of wildflower seed have been collected and spread across Milton Keynes meadows to create species-rich grasslands for years to come.
The Parks Trust charity has collected 200kg of wildflower seed over the summer period from some of the most species-rich meadows in Milton Keynes. The seed is being used to help bring greater botanical diversity to some of the city’s less diverse grasslands.
The collected seed is being hand spread across some of the less species-rich grasslands by the charity's team and volunteers. This year, the work is focused on areas along the Ouse Valley near Wolverton Mill, Stony Stratford Nature Reserve, Stonebridge and Linford Lakes Nature Reserve.
Timing is important as many wildflower seeds need to experience a period of cold weather before they can successfully germinate. This process is known as cold stratification, which is one of the reasons the seed is spread at this time of year.
The results won't happen overnight. It can take several years for some wildflowers to become established, flower and eventually produce their own seed. That's why ongoing monitoring through our grassland surveys is such an important part of the project.
By collecting seed from the city’s richest meadows and introducing it to grasslands with fewer species, the charity is helping to create more diverse habitats across Milton Keynes.
In time, richer wildflower meadows can provide valuable food and shelter for a whole range of wildlife, from bees and butterflies to many other insects and animals.
The Parks Trust cares for over 6,000 acres of Milton Keynes’ parks, ancient woodlands, lakes, river valleys and 80 miles of landscaped areas along the city’s grid roads.