Wild About Here
The Earth Matters group of Harting CAN concentrated in 2023 on researching, making and installing nest boxes for swallows, swifts and house martins. It was hugely successful and brought the community together.
We wanted to do something that would continue to bring joy but also support these wonderful birds. The idea of creating wildflower meadows was born. Three sites were found – one each in East, South and West Harting.
Groups of volunteers came together to sow and nurture the seeds, creating our own wildflower “turfs”. Others came together to create space for these turfs to be laid. Others reared the seeds as plug plants.
Despite the wet, cold spring the turfs and plug plants were sown and are now being left to mother nature.
The mini meadows will provide food and cover for our pollinators, other insects and beetles. They will also provide cover for small beast such as newts, frogs, toads and field mice.
As well as creating these public mini-meadows, thanks from the support from Alitex, we have been able to give away packets of free wildflower seeds for anyone in our community who wants them. Each packet of seeds covers a 1m x 1m square. We’re now looking forward to seeing the results!
This is another joyous demonstration of how, when we work together, we can all do something positive for our wildlife and the environment we call home.
Send an e-mail to hartingclimateaction@gmail.com
How to Sow a Wildflower Turf – for planting out in spring
You will need:
A warm sunny window sill or greenhouse
One or more 24cm x 38cm seed trays – if the trays don’t have drainage holes be careful to keep the compost moist not wet.
Fresh multi-purpose or seed compost (a bought bag will be seed free unlike home produced compost)
How to sow your seeds:
Line your tray(s) with cardboard and fill the tray(s) with compost, to just below the top edge. Level the surface.
Water the compost so it is moist not wet.
Finely sow the seed across the entire surface of the compost.
Gently press the sown seed into the compost with your hands. Just enough to ensure all the seeds are in contact with the damp compost. Dust off any seeds stuck to your mucky hands!
The seeds lie on the surface; needing light, warmth and moisture to germinate.
Check your seed tray(s) to keep them moist particularly on warm sunny days and watch mother nature at work!