A team of conservation officers and volunteers in Dorset has been given the go ahead to plant native wildflowers to enhance floodplain fields for biodiversity.
The project will take place at Bere Marsh Farm, Shillingstone, which is owned by the Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT), a charity promoting nature-friendly farming to help reverse the biodiversity decline and combat climate change.
The team will be reseeding one hectare with brush-harvested seed from floodplain meadows managed by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
The plan is to increase coverage over the rest of the floodplain fields at Bere Marsh in future years.
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CRT head of conservation and land management, Helena Darragh, has explained why the project is so important.
She said: “Species-rich floodplain meadow habitat in Britain has dramatically declined due to agricultural intensification, urban and industrial development of these flat, low-lying, and fertile areas, as well as alterations to their hydrology through changes to river systems.
“Due to their proximity to watercourses, species-rich floodplain meadows were once the most productive fields on farms, receiving their nutrients each year through highly fertile silt deposited on the land during flood events.
“This special value has decreased with fertiliser now used more widely across farm holdings and high yielding grasses selected to grow hay or silage adding to the overall loss of this biodiverse habitat.”
Floodplain meadows are characterised by diverse herb-rich swards and feature the iconic great burnet plant. Other wildflowers include common sorrel and meadow vetchling
During winter and spring months, floodplain meadows are often inundated with floodwater, providing nesting and feeding habitat for a huge array of birdlife.
As the ground becomes drier, livestock can be let on to graze the early grass growth, before being shut out to allow wildflowers to come through and produce an herb-rich hay crop, and so the cycle comes full circle.
Native wildflower seeds need contact with bare soil to germinate so machinery is used to scratch the top surface of vegetation away to create conditions for sowing.
The CRT says it is committed to enhancing its farmed environment for biodiversity through conservation projects which restore natural habitat as part of its 'nature-friendly farm practices'.
Helena added: “With the UK now subject to more short, sharp downpours in winter months (and throughout the year) ensuring our floodplains function more effectively by storing water helps to alleviate flooding downstream and reduce soil erosion, providing benefits to local communities.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing our meadows flourish, providing for more pollinators and having positive ramifications all the way up the food chain.”
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