It’s not often you get to connect activities that support biodiversity with the outcomes of that biodiversity. But this September, that’s exactly what TBL’s Callum Bowes, our Sustainability Engagement Manager, did when he spent the day volunteering with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT). Here, he talks about his day, and the importance of preserving our wildflower meadows.
This was my first time volunteering with YDMT and I was excited to get stuck in, although I was unsure exactly what the day would entail.
Upon arrival, YDMT shared the plan for the day and we made our way to a local farm where we were split into groups (I was part of a group of around 15 volunteers). At our designated meadow, we spent 3-4 hours working hard to plant 1,250 wildflower plugs across ten different species.
After a leisurely lunch we finished the planting and were lucky enough to speak with the local farmer about the benefits of wildflower meadows for his artisan cheese business. We also got to try some of the delicious cheese.
Why wildflowers?
The Yorkshire Dales and the Forest of Bowland are home to some of the UK’s last remaining traditional wildflower meadows. 97% have already been lost. Over the last decade, YDMT has worked closely with landowners, partners, companies, individuals and many more to restore existing wildflower meadows and create new ones.
Why are wildflower meadows so important? Well…
- They support more priority wildlife and plant species than any other habitat type
- Grassland habitats play a key role in mitigating and adapting to climate change
- They provide food for livestock during winter months
- They provide a place for people to connect with nature
Read more about wildflower meadows and their benefits from YDMT here.
Highlights from the day
Before the day I knew very little about wildflower meadows and the impact they have on biodiversity and nature conservation. Learning about this from the coordinators at YDMT was a big highlight for me.
I was particularly impressed with the data-driven approach YDMT takes to tracking the results of these initiatives. The planting locations in the meadow were strategically selected and YDMT explained how, in the summer months, they will come back and analyse the success rate of each species in each location.
It was great to meet new people from different regions, companies, and jobs – it’s not often you get the chance to connect with people to share your passion for protecting nature.
And the cheese was amazing…
