A community wildflower garden in Alton has been highly commended in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s 2023 Wilder Annual Awards.
The Butts Community garden, which is being managed by Alton & Villages Local Action for Nature (AVLAN), is in a former grass verge that has been set aside for rewilding to encourage greater biodiversity. This is one of several verges in Alton that have become community garden plots.
This verge is owned by East Hampshire District Council and we provided support for AVLAN through the process.
Councillor Ginny Boxall, Chair of the EHDC Climate Change Task and Finish group, said:
“Wildflower meadows are an important part of supporting biodiversity in the district.
“They provide food for bees, butterflies and pollinators and can support many species of insects.
“According to the WWF, we’ve lost 97% of wildflower meadows in the UK since the 1930s and I’m proud that we’ve been able to support AVLAN to develop these sites.”
Most verges in the district are owned by Hampshire County Council. If you’re interested in adopting a verge in your area, then you can apply via the HCC website for a licence.
If you’re thinking of turning part of your own land into a wildflower meadow, the best time to sow wildflower seeds is Autumn (before the temperature drops) or March-April.