LANDSCAPING SERVICES
JOHN CHAMBERS
WILDFLOWER SEED
HELPS TRANSFORM UNUSED LAND AT NATIONAL TRUST ORMESBY MEADOW INTO THRIVING NATURE-RICH WILDFLOWER HAVEN
The Background Ormesby Hall , garden and parklands is set in a 240-acre green oasis in the heart of industrial Middlesbrough . It was home to the Pennyman family for generations before being bequeathed to the care of the National Trust in 1961 .
Part of the estate was Ormesby Meadow ; a previously unkempt and largely unused field which was essentially overgrown wasteland . The team at Ormesby Hall wanted to revive this and kickstarted a twoyear makeover project .
The Project As a conservation charity , the National Trust are only too aware of the national decline in natural habitats and their approach to land use reflects their aim to restore healthy , beautiful environments that help nature . With Ormesby Meadow the team wanted to create a green oasis and nature-rich haven in the heart of urban Middlesbrough . In a bid to enhance biodiversity and give the area a complete overhaul , the team decided to create an orchard , a pond and create a wildflower meadow .
They approached John Chambers Wildflower Seed who listened to their requirements which included a wildflower meadow featuring annuals , perennials , and a small number of grasses . A bespoke wildflower mix was then specifically created for this project . Designed with nearly 30 wildflower species , the mix needed to be colourful and continue to thrive year-on-year .
To ensure effective sowing results , the turf and top few inches of clay soil needed removing to ensure there was minimal competition from other vegetation . With this removed , the seed could be sown onto the bare soil below which increased the chances of successful establishment . Using a combination of turf cutting machine and a garden tractor , the Ormesby Hall team managed to create four large , cultivated areas ready to be sown with the bespoke wildflower seed mix .
The team then spent a day evenly sowing the mix into the cultivated areas before hand-raking it into the ground and firming it in using rollers on a ride-on mower .
Products used The bespoke mix created for this project consisted mainly of perennial wildflower and a small amount of grass seeds but had some annual cornfield seeds added in to give the requested ‘ burst of colour ’ in the meadow ’ s first season . This mix promised a healthy , colourful meadow that would attract a variety of wildlife to the area . Some of the perennial species can take a year or two to flower after germinating , so including annuals in a mix is an excellent way of filling in any flowering gaps .
The Outcome Nick Fraser , Senior Gardener at Ormesby Hall comments ; “ We had an idea in mind for the wildflower meadow in this area and the advice from the John Chambers wildflower Seed team really helped make that vision become a reality . The bespoke mix is perfect for what we needed ; the meadows have been looking great . We had good late colour from the annuals and some perennials last year . It looked so good we waited until October to cut as there was still colour and lots of insects . This year has been great with waves of different species through the year . As well as all the diverse species , the highlights have been the ox-eye daisies and a sea of wild carrot . We are thrilled with the project and look forward to seeing how it all develops over the coming years .”
www . johnchamberswildflowers . co . uk
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