Contact: Stephen or Steffan at 07815785457

For large projects, Little Malvern Farm offers meadow creation services.For creating and maintaining your own wildflower garden wildflower gadening in the cotswolds

Manage the meadow: To prevent aggressive grasses from taking over, cut the flowers in the autumn, making sure to use a machine that doesn’t destroy the seed heads, and remove the cuttings. 

Prepare the soil: Choose a sunny spot and clear the ground. You can dig and loosen the soil to create a fine seedbed or scarify a patch of grass to prepare it for sowing.

Sow seeds: The best time to sow is late August or September, as autumn sowing helps break seed dormancy.

Firm the seeds: After sowing, firm the ground to ensure the seeds have good contact with the soil.

Protect your seeds: Protect newly sown seeds from birds until they have germinated.

Recommended Native Wildflowers

Native species that do well in the region and attract pollinators include: 

• Oxeye daisy
• Common knapweed
• Bird’s-foot trefoil
• Field scabious
• Ragged robin
• Primrose and wild daffodils (for spring colour)
• Meadowsweet and water mint (for damper areas, like near a pond)
• Corn poppy 

To establish a successful wildflower garden in

Worcestershire, focus on using native species suitable for local soil conditions and manage the area to keep soil fertility low. 

Key Steps for a Worcestershire Wildflower Garden

1. Choose the Right Site: Select a sunny spot, as most wildflowers require at least 6 hours of daily sunlight.
2. Prepare the Soil: This is the most critical step. Wildflowers thrive in poor, low-nutrient soil.
   • Remove all existing turf and persistent perennial weeds (like nettles and docks), ensuring all roots are removed.
   • Dig or rotovate the soil to break up compaction, then firm and rake it to create a fine, level seedbed.
   • Avoid using fertiliser or manure, as high nutrient levels encourage aggressive grasses that outcompete wildflowers.
   • Allow the soil to settle for a few weeks, and remove any new weeds that appear before sowing.
3. Select Local Seeds: Use native British wildflower seeds, ideally from a supplier who sources from local areas like the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border. This ensures the plants are adapted to the local climate and support local wildlife.

Sow the Seeds:

• Sow pure wildflower seeds at a rate of around 1-2g per square metre, or a wildflower-and-grass mix at about 5g per square metre.
• Mix the seeds with dry sand to help you scatter them evenly and see where you’ve sown.
• Scatter half the mix one way, and the other half at a 90-degree angle to ensure even coverage.
• Lightly press the seeds into the soil with the back of a rake or by treading them in; do not bury them deeply.

Initial Care:

• Water the area gently after sowing and keep it moist until seedlings are well established.
• Protect the seeds from birds using netting or bird-scaring devices if necessary.