Congratulations to the garden centre business, Honnor and Jeffrey, on sowing a stunning wildflower meadow on their land at Afton Road. You can enjoy gorgeous views from the End of the Line Cafe in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight.
Freshwater resident and wildlife enthusiast, Pete Johnstone, was so impressed with the meadow that he got in touch with the company to find out more.
© Pete Johnstone CEnv MCIEEM PJ.elements
John Jordan, the garden centre groundsman undertook the meadow creation and explained that,
“The land had always been kept neat by mowing but had served no real purpose.
“The idea of creating a wildflower meadow had been in the planning for several years.
“In autumn 2022, the seed was purchased, the field was rotovated, and the seed was sow.”
Then came the long nail-biting wait through a very wet winter. John says that wildflower meadow creation can be fickle at times, but the first year of the meadow flowering has “exceeded all our expectations.”
A seed mix of 27 species native to the UK was chosen, including common poppy, corn chamomile, corncockle and cornflower. John plans to resow and mow in late summer to keep the meadow in top condition. Next year, John predicts, the meadow should be even better.
Pete Johnstone, who took the photos, said,
“By creating this wildflower-rich meadow, Honnor and Jeffrey have created a valuable wildlife habitat that will be good for pollinating insects and one that will be here for years to come.
“The company has also made a nature-positive contribution to the landscape of the River Yar corridor that runs from Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay.
“To my mind this is an excellent practical example of a business contributing to the Island’s Biosphere Reserve and should be commended.”
Pete took the photos and the story as part of his West Wight People and Place project. You can see some of the latest stories on the Island’s Biosphere Reserve Website.
Image: © Pete Johnstone CEnv MCIEEM PJ.elements
