Flower Power

Why Plant Wildflowers?

There are few better examples of climate change heroes than bees and other invertebrates. We rely on them totally for our food crops and to brighten our natural environment.

A flourishing population of invertebrates is a barometer of the health of the environment.

97% of native British wildflower habitat has been lost since World War 2. Wildflower habitats are where bees and butterflies make their lives. With your help we can re-create these lost habitats.

The Flower Power Project

March

In March the first stage of the project will begin with the involvement the children of East Harptree Primary School. Phoebe Thomas will give the children a talk about climate change and each child will be given a packet of wildflower seeds. Phoebe is an ex-pupil and a member of the Chew Valley School Climate Change Group. This is scheduled for the 18^th March.

The Competition

Each child will also receive an information sheet which will detail how to sow their seeds and how the competition will work.

The seeds can be planted in their gardens, on verges or in pots. Once the seeds have flowered in May – June, the children will be asked to submit a photo of their wildflowers to the Parish Council website who will post all entries. The website will also signpost the Climate Change Report drawn up by villagers for villagers. This will be further enhanced by the inclusion of experts’ details – people who can help to answer your questions on environmental matters or how villagers can become more involved.

The wildflower photos will be judged by Jane Bailey and Steve Thomas and the winning entries awarded prizes at the East Harptree flower show in September. There will also be a dedicated Climate Change stand at the Flower show to answer people’s questions.

September

Following the Flower Show there will be an opportunity for everyone to be involved in a community effort to plant wildflower seed in the following initial three areas:

The Waldegrave car park
The road verge in Water Street
The road verge in Townsend

All of these sites will require a considerable degree of groundwork as the wild seed needs to be planted on bare earth.

Thanks

There are many people that we would like to thank for their input, but a special mention should go to Cllr David Wood who has talked to Parks and Leisure (BANES) as they have donated a bag for life full of meadow seeds towards the project.

For more information contact Steve Thomas @ steve@grassroutes.co.uk

On March 18th every child at East Harptree Primary School, was given a packet of wildflower seeds to sow in the village flower power competition. They also received a talk by Phoebe Thomas, an ex pupil about the activities of the climate change club at their local comprehensive school, Chew Valley school. A good time was had by all!

We look forward to seeing the results of their efforts in May – June when we hope to show pictures on this site of what they have managed to grow!