What is a Wildflower Meadow and Why Do They Matter?
What is a wildflower?
A wildflower is described as one that is native to the country it grows in and has not been nurtured or modified by artificial selection or breeding. A flower of an uncultivated variety or a flower growing freely without human intervention.
Wildflowers are special because they are visually very compelling, and some have unique medicinal properties that have been used for centuries, for example – Ox-eye Daisy can make a syrup for chesty coughs and Selfheal can be used as a poultice to prevent bleeding.
What is a wildflower meadow?
A wildflower meadow is an area of land that is sowed with flowering plants and left to flourish with minimal interference, making it a haven for wildlife and a brilliant alternative to manicured gardens.
Unfortunately, wildflower meadows have been steadily in decline since the first & second world wars. This is mainly due to increased farming as vast areas of meadow have been cleared for crop production and grazing, and so many wildflowers are in danger of extinction in the wild.
In the United Kingdom, the organisation Plantlife International instituted in 2002 the County Flowers scheme whereby members of the public nominated and voted for a wild flower emblem for their county.
The aim was to spread awareness of the heritage of native species and about the need for conservation, as some of these species are endangered. For example, Somerset has adopted the Cheddar Pink. Ever since its discovery 300 years ago, this pretty, scented pink has been the pride of Somerset. It grows in several places in the Mendip Hills, but nowhere more profusely than the original site at Cheddar Gorge.
London adopted the Rosebay Willowherb. A tall plant, Rosebay willowherb is a successful coloniser; it can form dense stands of bright pink flower spikes on disturbed ground, such as woodland clearings, verges and waste ground.
Check out the top 5 Wildflowers in the UK here or click on the link below for more photos.
