We are delighted to release a new resource: Celebrating Native Wildflowers.
This booklet celebrates the many different native wildflowers on the island of Ireland, and includes instructions on how to help them grow. It was developed in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Teagasc, UCD Horticulture and the National Botanic Gardens.
The importance of native wildflowers
Allowing native wildflowers to grow is one of the best ways you can help biodiversity. These precious plants have evolved on our island for many thousands of years and are perfectly adapted to support other native species, especially pollinators. In recent years, wildflower seed mixes have become popular, but they can damage biodiversity. Real native wildflowers don’t need to come from a packet. Their seeds are in the soil beneath our feet, waiting for a chance to emerge. All you need to do is select an existing patch of grass, and mow less.
The problem with wildflower seed mixes
Bright, colourful wildflower seed mixes are easy to buy in shops or online. Many claim to be ‘native’, ‘Irish’, or ‘bee friendly’. But there is no regulation over their content, and studies have shown they often contain non-native species or seeds that have been sourced outside of Ireland which are not adapted to our soil and climate. They can also accidentally introduce invasive species, such as Black-grass.
Real wildflowers grow wild
The new booklet goes through the steps of how to encourage native wildflowers by reducing mowing, and a poster of the species that might appear such as Bee orchids, Birds-foot trefoil, and Oxeye Daisy.
Find out more:
How to create a short-flowering meadow
Creating and restoring meadows in local communities and gardens