Wild Flower Meadow

How to build a wildflower meadow. Instructions with photographs on how to create a meadow with wild flowers from your local environment - from UK Nature.

Some of the most common enquiries received on uknature are about wild flowers and how to create a wildflower meadow. The wildflowers of particular interest are: wild poppy, cornflower, white campion, wild daisy e.g. oxeye daisy, wild pansy and charlock. We also receive a lot of enquiries about wild seed suppliers or suppliers of native plants.

If you want to ask questions about creating wild flower meadows please ask on my uk nature and wildlife discussion forum

This page will contain instructions on how to create your own wild flower meadow.
Click here for a list of wild flower seed suppliers in the UK.

Firstly it is important to consider i) what is in the area that you want to convert, ii) what effect you want to achieve and iii) how much effort you are willing to put in to maintaining you wildflower meadow.

Your plot

If your plot is already turfed then you have several options. If the grass is of a tough and fast growing recreational type then you might consider digging it up as it may well compete too strongly with the wildflowers that you intend to plant. If you do not want to do this then you are probably best using nursery bought plants or growing them yourself from seed. Dig them in every foot or so.

If you do want to sow seed then sprinkling seed over the top of the grass is not successful. What you need to do is dig up quite a few ares of turf (and the accompanying topsoil) each 1-2 square feet and then sow seed in these areas.

If the area is wasteland then it is important to prepare the ground. Uneven ground is fine from the plants point of view but remember that the meadow requires cutting and so decide how much levelling is required in order for the mower to be used. Also, large stones and general rubbish such as tincans and old bike frames need to be removed.

ii) The effect you want

There are many different types of meadow / display you can choose from. Look around your local countryside to see which type of wild plants grow successfully around you. Generally these are the best ones to choose. You may opt for a diplay lasting one year (such as a cornfield) or for longer. You may make use of natural features (such as water and boggy areas) or you could try to alter the area to something diffrent. The following are some ideas:

Cornfield Annuals Meadow

Here are some images of my mini-meadow in Buckinghamshire.

...mainly oxe eye daisies

...cornflower, poppy, corncockle, oxe eye daisy & charlock

...wild pansies

...white campion

...poppy

...corncockle

...whole of the mini-meadow

Chalkland Meadow

...knapweed

Other Habitats

...mallow

...bladder campion

... teasel

To Be Continued . . .

Details of Open Days at Eades Meadow:

The Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
Lower Smite Farm
Smite Hill
Hindlip
Worcester
WR3 8SZ

Tel: 01905 754919