Rewilding Mickleton

As spring begins to take shape, so do our gardens, greenspaces and reserves as dashes of colour appear and they become havens for all creatures great and small. This April, RSPB England’s Becca Smith takes a look at the wonderful world of wildflowers waiting to be discovered, and how you can create a spectacular sea of colour right on your doorstep that benefits nature too.  The term “wildflower meadow” might conjure up images of enchanting, vast landscapes of colourful flowers and long grasses, but even on small scale, planting the right flowers and grasses can have a fantastic impact on local wildlife. On Thursday every child in Mickleton School received a wildflower pack (with planting instructions) as they broke up for the Easter holidays. On Easter Saturday families in Mickleton will have the opportunity to collect a small pack of native wildflowers to plant in their gardens (or in a large pot). More information about this can be found on the (digital) Village Notice Board.  RSPB

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) records indicate that  in 1935 almost 40% of the Cotswolds landscape was covered with wildflower-rich grassland. Since then, unimproved grassland sites have fallen to just 1.5% of the area of the Cotswolds.  GCC further noted that: thousands of species are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss the loss of biodiversity is having serious consequences for the resilience of ecosystem functions on which our communities and countryside depend with the loss of lowland meadows and pastures across the UK, grassy road verges in particular offer vital refuges for plants and wildflowers. For further information please see: GCC Ecological Emergencylive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/nature-gets-priority-ecological-emergency-4367102 Just six months ago Cotswold District Council (CDC) approved an Ecological Emergency Action Plan as their response to the Ecological Crisis. This included promoting the creation of new natural green spaces and green links across the

Please support our Rewilding Mickleton Programme The adoption of a few basic principles can significantly improve the biodiversity of our verges. There are nearly 500,000 kilometres of rural road verge in the UK. This is equal to half of our remaining flower-rich grasslands and meadows: their potential is enormous. Over 700 species of wild flower grow on the UK’s road verges – nearly 45% of our total flora. And where wild flowers lead, wildlife follows -a multitude of bees, butterflies, birds and bugs - all enjoyed by 23 million road commuters. Priorities for safety and access, along with budget constraints and difficulties with the collection of litter and grass clippings can mean that enhancing their wildlife value is often low on the list. But we believe that the adoption of a few basic principles will improve our verges for nature, bringing benefits for wildlife, for us and for future generations.  We already have two wildflower areas in the 3Bs Community Wildlife Garden behind the