Improving Moray's environment through Wildflower planting

You belong among the Wildflowers … in Moray.

Legendary rock musician, Tom Petty, was not the only person to extol the virtues of wildflowers.

Facing up to the environmental challenges confronting us all, Moray’s local authority wants to expand its approach to management of open spaces.

Wildflowers are proven to improve biodiversity, develop the human community’s health and wellbeing and support wildlife.

Especially benefited are insects such as bees which have come under increasing pressure across the world, Worryingly, certain pesticides which undermine pollinator populations continui to be promoted by some governments.

As some commentators have asked: what if pollinators are not simply a link in the chain of life but its clasp?

There is a clear argument that anything which improves the habitat for insects and birds should be encouraged. The visual impact can also be stunning.

Wildflower-Bed-at-Lossiemouth-Esplanade-Moray — Wildflower bed at Lossiemouth Esplanade – Summer 2020.

Over a 3-year period from 2021, the Moray Council plans to create up to 8 new wildflower areas each year, across the region.

The blueprint envisages that only seed mixes containing native wildflower species will be used at the selected sites.

The hope is that local communities across Moray will take on the care and management of these wildflower beds.

In selecting suitable places, considerations will include whether an existing green space could be more wildflower-friendly if grass cutting is stopped. Or whether a shrub bed could be removed, making space for wildflowers.

In Forres, for example, a place already famous for its blooms, community groups have nominated various diverse locations, including Mannachie Park, the burnside area close to the Mosset Tavern, Sanquhar Pond – and even one of the roundabouts on the A96.