Outpost VFX supported the planting of 2 hectares of wildflowers in the UK in 2022-24

OutpostVFX 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 OutpostVFX, a network of flower-rich pathways that benefits pollinators, other wildlife, and people across the UK has been created.

Wildflower Restoration in Hampshire (2 hectares)

Outpost VFX has supported the planting of native wildflowers at Canford Park, a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) located just north of the city. A SANG is similar to a country park albeit with a particular purpose: to reduce recreational pressure on sensitive habitats and protect the species therein.

The Dorset Heathlands are of European nature conservation importance and designated as a Special Protection Area. Restoration work at Canford Park complements the work happening in Poole and Bournemouth to conserve species and regenerate green spaces that are considered vulnerable and sensitive to additional development pressures.

Natural England outlines various guidelines for the creation of SANG sites including: a variety of habitats, a network of public footpaths and desirable features such as areas of dense trees, scattered scrub or open water.

Wildflower restoration enhances plans of making this area an accessible and beautiful wildlife rich site for the local community to use, adding diverse habitat and an environment that better supports pollinators. The seed mix planted includes species Greater Knapweed, Wild Clary, Yarrow and Yellow Rattle to enhance the meadows on site and provide new habitat and forage for pollinating and other invertebrates.

The work began in the Autumn of 2023 and was completed in Spring and early Autumn 2024.

Wildflowers & Grasses Planted

Lady’s Bedstraw: Galium Verum

You can recognise this plant by the stunning clusters of bright yellow flowers which burst forth in the summer months and smell faintly of honey. When dried, Lady’s Bedstraw has a scent reminiscent of hay, and it used to be used to stuff mattresses, especially for women who were about to go into labour, which is probably how it got its interesting name. It was also commonly used to curdle milk to make cheese!

Black Medick: Medicago Lupulina

Also known as hop clover, this annual or short-lived perennial plant sprawls out along the ground and has small clusters of yellow flowers. The flowers are rich in nectar and attractive to bees; the blooms later turn into small black seed pods. Sheep like to graze on black medick, but cattle are not too fond of the taste.

Salad Burnet: Sanguisorba Minor

Salad burnet has a taste that is somewhat reminiscent of cucumber, making it a popular kitchen garden plant for use in drinks, salads, sauces and elsewhere. In the 1600s, English settlers took it with them to the New World where it quickly became a popular delicacy, and Thomas Jefferson was known to be a fan. He wasn’t the only one; Sir Francis Bacon suggested planting salad burnet along pathways to perfume the air.

Wild Carrot: Daucus Carota

This biennial herbaceous plant is closely related to the carrots we grow and eat today. If you dig up the roots early enough, they are edible, but by the time the flowers appear, they will be too old and woody to eat. Wild carrot flowers are small and white, which is how this plant got its other name: Queen Anne’s lace.

Cowslip: Primula Veris

You can recognise the cowslip by its clusters of drooping bell-shaped yellow flowers which make a cheery addition to meadows and woodlands. Cowslips are very strongly associated with springtime and Easter, thriving on chalky soils where they flower between April and May. They were traditionally picked to make May Day garlands and wedding decorations.

Field Forget-me-not: Myosotis Arvensis

You might well spot these small, pale blue flowers growing by the side of the road, or else on dry, arable land. Field forget-me-not seeds should be sown in the autumn, so that they can flower in the spring and summer, attracting bees, butterflies and other insects. According to Greek myth, it is so-called because when Zeus was naming the plants, this little blue flower feared being left out and shouted, “Forget me not!”.

Self-heal: Prunella Vulgaris

Self-heal’s bright purple flowers grow close to the ground in meadows and grasslands as well as by the side of the road and on lawns. It is in bloom between June and October. As you might expect from the name, this small plant has long been used in herbal medicine to treat a number of ailments.

Yarrow: Achillea Millefolium

This hardy perennial has a slightly aniseed taste and can be made into tea; in the Middle Ages, it was used to flavour beer. Centuries ago, Yarrow was used to heal wounds and stop bleeding, but it was also thought to start nosebleeds, and still has the nickname “nosebleed plant”. Starlings and other birds use yarrow to line their nests.

Yellow-rattle: Rhinanthus Minor

This plant’s yellow flowers are in bloom from May to September. It makes a popular addition to any wildflower meadow, as it feeds off the nutrients in other grasses, reducing competition between species. Its seeds grow in brown pods which make a slight rattling sound.

Meadow Buttercup: Ranunculus Acris

Buttercups are a familiar sight around the world, with this species being particularly hard to miss with its bright yellow colour and also being referred to as the “giant” or “tall” buttercup. Commonly used by Native American tribes to treat headaches, this plant is characteristically found in grazed grasslands and prefers soil with intermediate drainage. While sometimes considered a problematic weed in mowed lawns, the Meadow Buttercup is a valued addition to wildflower meadows and one cultivated variety even has the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Red Campion: Silene Dioica

Native to the British Isles, this 5-petaled flower is commonly seen growing on roadsides, in woodlands, and on rocky slopes where there is damp soil. If you visit the Isle of Man you may hear it referred to as “blaa ny ferrishyn” or “fairy flower” and make sure not to pick them as it is a taboo to do so on the island.

White Campion: Silene Alba

Not to be confused with Silene Vulgaris, this wildflower is also commonly referred to as Bladder Campion. Across England it has gained further nicknames including “Grave Flower” or “Flower of the Dead” due to its propensity for growing on graves and around tombstones, likely due to a preference for open, sunny areas. Their nectar-rich flowers are a hotspot of activity for bees, butterflies, and other insects making them a perfect addition to at-home wildflower gardens.

Night-Flowering Catchfly: Silene Noctiflora

The Night-Flowering Catchfly is a tall, annual herb growing to 75-80 centimetres. While considered a weed in North America, this plant is native to the UK and grows in fields and in other disturbed habitats. Inversely to most flowering plants and as the name implies, the Night-Flowering Catchfly flowers after dusk to attract nocturnal insects using a very strong fragrance.

Wild Clary: Salvia Verbenaca

Wild Clary, or as it is also known, Wild Sage, boasts a distinct soft purple to violet set of flowers in summer. It grows in neutral to alkaline and requires full sun and uses its aromatic scent to attract pollinators. The famous scent lends itself to many culinary recipes, with Wild Clary often being used in a variety of dishes and steeped to make teas.

Ox-eye Daisy: Leucanthemum Vulgare

Ox-eye Daisy is a small, yet resilient flower and has the ability to thrive in diverse habitats. The yellow centre of the oxeye daisy is made up of many small flowers which hold nectar enjoyed by various pollinating insects, including butterflies, bees and hoverflies. A mature plant can produce up to 26,000 seeds that are spread by animals, vehicles, water and contaminated agricultural produce, and some seeds remain viable for up to nearly forty years.

Wild Foxglove: Digitalis Purpurea

Famous for its distinct look and potent poison, Wild Foxglove is a very popular addition to home gardens across the world. This beautiful flower sports a number of colours, ranging from purple, pink, yellow, and even white. Beyond looking pretty, Foxglove’s toxin is the source of digoxin, an important heart medication used worldwide. It is also one of the first wildflowers to reappear after a site has been disturbed by construction, tree felling, or other incidents, making it an important species for reintroducing biodiversity to an area.

Goat's-beard: Tragopogon Pratensis

Commonly referred to as Goat’s-beard, this fluffy yellow flower somehow has an even stranger nickname: “Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon.” Growing up to 76 centimetres tall with a bright yellow 5 centimetre wide flower head, it is easy to spot across England while it opens in the morning sunshine (hence its alternative name). The roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes and have a sweet flavour.

Common Knapweed: Centaurea Nigra

Black Knapweed, a native UK wildflower, is recognised by its distinctive bright pink and purple, thistle-like flower heads. It's a superb wildlife plant as the flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, and attract bees, moths and butterflies such as the Marbled white butterfly. It’s seeds are popular with birds like goldfinches.

Musk Mallow: Malva Moschata

Musk Mallow is a beautiful flowering plant with pink saucer-shaped petals with an attractive scent and as such is typically grown as an ornamental plant. It is native to most of Europe and southwestern Asia, preferring dry yet fertile soils and is commonly found in hedgerows. Numerous bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are commonly attracted to the musky fragrance.

Common Sorrel: Rumex Acetosa

Sheep’s sorrel leaves look a little like spinach, and they are widely used in salads or as a garnish. The plant has a citrus taste, so it features in both sweet and savoury dishes. Sheep’s sorrel grows quickly and has small, red flowers which are pollinated by the wind.

Common St John's-wort: Hypericum perforatum

As a metre-tall flowering plant with distinctly black-spotted yellow petals, St John’s-wort is hard to miss. This plant produces a number of highly active chemical compounds which range from being harmful deterrents to large herbivores, to being extremely useful in a variety of medicines and being used as far back as the first century AD. While St John’s-wort tries to deter mammals, a number of insect species rely on it as a food source. Chrysolina hyperici, aptly called the Saint John's-wort beetle feeds on St John’s-wort and related plants.

Greater knapweed: Centaurea scabiosa

Greater Knapweed, characterised by deep purple thistle-like flowers, blooms in summer and attracts butterflies and bees. Its rugged appearance lends it a robust presence in meadows. This wildflower has medieval associations with knighthood and chivalry.

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.

Planting for the Future

Outpost VFX supported the planting of 2 hectares of wildflowers in the UK in 2022-24