This fact stopped me in my tracks….
- Since the 1930s, we have lost nearly 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures. Just 1% of our countryside now provides this floral feast for pollinators.
- Against this loss, habitats such as lawns have become increasingly important. With 15 million gardens in Britain, our lawns have the potential to become major sources of nectar.
Source: Plantlife, https://www.Plantlife.org.uk/everyflowercounts/
I found this fact quite startling. The meadow landscape and natural habitat I take so much of my creative inspiration from is so under threat wasn’t new news to me, but I certainly had not realised the extent of this decline. Nor had I fully realised the important role our own gardens now play in encouraging wildflowers and providing nectar for pollinators.
So, during May I will be supporting the charity Plantlife’s #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey citizen science survey and #NoMowMay campaign, which encourages us to let our lawns grow and to track and record the varieties of wildflowers that appear during the month. I definitely don’t need much persuasion to avoid the lawn mower anyway! And now there will be the added bonus of doing something for a good cause that truly resonates with me.
Back in mid-April we started leaving patches of our lawn to grow. Admittedly we have inherited a mature (and quite over-grown garden) but we were amazed as the weeks progressed to see Speedwells and Primroses appear. So, now that I’ll be taking part in the #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey survey, which starts towards the end of May after a few weeks of dodging the lawn mower, I’m definitely excited to see what other wildflower types may start to appear!
The Meadow Collection
I have been working on a series of new original artworks and a new Giclee Art Print inspired by meadows and wildflower landscapes. So, to coincide with #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey and #NoMowMay, I will be releasing the Meadow Collection. A colourful, vibrant Collection that celebrates the diversity, richness and colour of meadows. If you have followed my work, you’ll know it is inspired by nature, the seasons and the landscape around me. I am passionate about not only celebrating the natural environment that inspires me but conserving it and preserving it for future generations.
So with this Collection, I will be making a donation to Plantlife from the sale of the pieces during May.
You can view the full Collection here.
Interested to find out more about The #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey Campaign?
The Plantlife website has a wealth of information about the campaign and how to get involved.
Here’s what Plantlife say on their website (https://www.Plantlife.org.uk/everyflowercounts/) about the importance of their campaign:
“When it comes to providing vital nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other insects, #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey. And your lawn can help provide that feast…..
The more wild flowers you have in your lawn the more nectar will be produced….
Put quite simply, plants need pollinators and pollinators need plants. However, we know that both are in sharp decline."
- On a single day in summer, one acre of wildflower meadow can contain 3 million flowers, producing 1 kg of nectar sugar. That’s enough to support nearly 96,000 honey bees per day.
- But since the 1930s, we have lost nearly 7.5 million acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures. Just 1% of our countryside now provides this floral feast for pollinators.
- Against this loss, habitats such as lawns have become increasingly important. With 15 million gardens in Britain, our lawns have the potential to become major sources of nectar.
- But no one has ever quantified this resource before. This is what #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey aims to do: work out how many flowers are on our lawns, how much nectar they’re producing and how many bees they can support through the calculation of our annual National Nectar Score.
- #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey will then allow us to monitor trends over time. Can we manage our lawns differently to increase the National Nectar Score? Will climate change have an impact on flowering and nectar production? What are the most abundant flowers and what can we do to encourage them?
Plantlife In Northern Ireland
Plantlife is a British conservation charity working nationally and internationally to save threatened wild flowers, plants and fungi. Plantlife plays an active role across the whole of the UK through conservation, campaigning, research and policy development. In Northern Ireland, Plantlife have identified four IPAs (Important Plant Areas): Garron Plateau (Antrim), Strangford Lough (Down), Clones-Rosalea (Fermanagh/Monaghan border) and Upper Lough Erne (Fermanagh). IPAs form the focus for much of Plantlife’s conservation work. They work with landowners, farmers and partner organisations to improve conditions for plants and habitats and encourage their spread.
Plantlife have also co-designed The National Plant Monitoring Scheme (NPMS), a habitat-based plant monitoring scheme with the aim of collecting data to provide an annual indication of changes in plant abundance and diversity. Northern Irish collaborators on the NPMS are CEDaR and NIEA.
Why not join me and get involved in #NoMowMay and see what varieties of wildflowers may grow in your lawn?
You can sign up to get involved with the #EveryFlowerCounts citizen science survey campaign here