LRG supported the planting of 3 hectares of wildflowers in the UK in 2024-25
LRG has taken action to restore one of the rarest habitats in the UK: wildflower meadows. They're essential for the protection and survival of insects around the country, thus a cornerstone of our entire ecosystem and food chain.
Wildflower meadows used to cover large swaths of England but approximately 97% of them have been lost since the 1930's, an area larger than the size of Wales.
Wildflower meadows provide insects with food, shelter and transport links across counties in the UK where biodiversity has been depleted by habitat loss, development, and intensive farming. World leading study, State of Nature confirms the UK as one of the world’s most nature depleted countries, with 1 in 6 of more than 10,000 species assessed (16%) at risk of being lost from Great Britain. Some species, such as the Six-banded Nomad Bee have gone from being found all across southern England, to only being found in Devon.
Pollinators are critical to food chains and as such, wildflower meadows provide valuable support for wildlife and all life on earth, including humans. In the words of Kew Gardens, 'The more wildflowers there are, the more diverse pollinators they can support, and the more healthy crops we can grow.'
Our solution is to restore B-Lines - a network of insect pathways along which we are restoring and creating wildflower rich habitat. These pollinator highways created in partnership with GreenTheUK and Buglife will extend across the whole of the UK, allowing wildlife to move freely through our countryside and towns. Rather than covering entire regions in wildflowers, stepping stones of habitat have been created along the network to fulfil their purpose as efficiently as possible. In the event of the collapse of a wildflower habitat, having the B-Lines to provide new habitat and connect them with other wildflower meadows, we can save whole communities of insects from being lost.
Thanks to support from LRG, a network of flower-rich pathways that benefits pollinators, other wildlife, and people across the UK has been created.
Wildflower Restoration in South-West (0.1 hectare)
Wilmott Park is a 0.9 km linear greenspace that runs through the centre of Hartcliffe in South Bristol. The park is widely used by the community and enjoyed by friends, families, and dog walkers. It features a football pitch, 'rock river,' hill slide, children’s play area, and pump track.
LRG joined Your Park to plant wildflower plugs in Wilmott Park, including species such as Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and Wild Carrot (Daucus carota). Planting these species in the Autumn will give the newly introduced plugs a chance to establish root systems before competitive grass species, that die-back in the colder months, return in the spring.
Wilmott Park is on the Bristol B-Line and so all the volunteers from LRG that generously donated their time on the day have not only supported their local area but have also secured another stepping stone in the landscape for pollinators and contributed to Buglife’s nationwide B-Lines initiative to create and restore at least 150,000 hectares of flower-rich habitat across the UK.
Wildflower Restoration in Surrey (0.1 hectare)
In March 2025, LRG joined Buglife and GreenTheUK at The Mount, a chalk grassland site on the south side of Guildford -one of Britain’s most biodiverse habitats and an important refuge for wildflower-dependent invertebrates. The team worked to remove woody scrub that was encroaching on the grassland and suppressing native wildflowers. Clearing this scrub is essential to allowing chalk grassland flora to return in spring and summer, providing nectar-rich feeding grounds for bees, butterflies and other invertebrates. Despite steep slopes, deep roots and a dramatic hailstorm at lunchtime, the LRG volunteers powered through the day, helping to restore 0.1 hectares of valuable wildflower habitat that will continue to flourish throughout the year.
Wildflower Restoration in Essex (1 hectare)
LRG joined GreenTheUK and Buglife at Canvey Wick, a remarkable SSSI in Essex, to support the restoration of wildflower-rich grassland within this unique mosaic of scrub, grassland and estuarine habitat. Volunteers hand-pulled evening primrose, birch saplings and sea buckthorn - species that, if left unchecked, outcompete the delicate wildflowers needed by pollinators. Working on tough, compacted ground, the team used loppers and spades to remove deep roots and create space for more pollinator-friendly plants to thrive. Canvey Wick is home to over 2,000 invertebrate species, including the endangered Shrill Carder Bee and Brown-banded Carder Bee, making LRG’s contribution to this wildflower restoration effort especially impactful.
Wildflower Restoration in Somerset (1.8 hectares)
In 2025, LRG expanded its support for local wildlife by contributing to wildflower meadow restoration at Chancellor’s Farm in Somerset. Chancellor’s Farm is a 34-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest in the Mendip Hills National Landscape, managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust under a long-standing lease.
The farm is an exceptional survivor of traditional, low-intensity agriculture and supports one of Somerset’s finest examples of species-rich wildflower grassland. The meadows sit on an unusual mix of lime-rich, neutral and acidic soils, allowing for a remarkable diversity of wildflowers to thrive. These include species such as Devil’s-bit Scabious, along with classic hay meadow species including Yellow Rattle and Lesser Knapweed.
The diversity of wildflowers underpins a rich invertebrate community, providing abundant nectar, pollen, and larval food sources throughout the season. The varied grassland structure, long continuity of management, and absence of artificial fertilisers or chemicals make the site particularly valuable for pollinating insects and other grassland invertebrates, which in turn support bats, birds, and wider food webs across the landscape.
Managed through traditional hay cutting and light grazing, Chancellor’s Farm stands as a rare and vital stronghold for wildflower meadows. Its continued protection and careful management are critical to nature recovery across the Mendip Hills.
Wildflowers & Grasses Planted
UN's Sustainable Development Goals
As a GreenTheUK partner, you support projects that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
