17 June 2024

York Museum Garden Team has created a new wildflower meadow behind York Art Gallery, which is now in full flower and perfect for a summer visit. Steve Williams, Garden Manager, provides an insight into how and why the meadow was created. 

 

We have been delivering projects to support wildlife for some time, including a Bird Feeding Station by the Abbey Ruins and a small apple orchard next to the Hospitium. Creating a wildflower meadow to complement York Art Gallery’s new exhibition National Treasures: Monet in York ‘The Waterlily-Pond’ was a great opportunity to turn a grassy area into a different type of space which could also support wildlife. 

 

Our Gardens Team began preparations in October 2023, clearing the grass on the mound and sowing seeds before and after Christmas to ensure we achieved the right density of flowers for a successful meadow. We chose wild-flowers which are pollinator-friendly, including Corn Chamomile, Corn Cockle, Cornflower, Marigold, and Field Poppy. Other flowers have appeared, and we have left those in place to help increase diversity.  

 

We have been delighted to see so many insects enjoying our wildflower meadow over the last few weeks. Wildflower meadows in the UK have suffered a significant decline over the years with an estimated 97% of these once-widespread habitats lost since the 1930s because of intensive farming. It’s a worrying trend, as wildflower meadows play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity.  Wildlife is under pressure in so many ways from reduction in natural habitat and it is so important that we do what we can to support them. Creating habitat and providing nectar sources for insects and pollinators is crucial as it supports the rest of the natural food chain such as birds and small mammals. We all know how important pollinators are for our food production too and it is in our interests to contribute to their wellbeing. 

 

We have mown a wavy path through the meadow for people to walk in and enjoy being surrounded by wildflowers and insects in the heart of the city and we have seen hundreds of people enjoying the opportunity to get up close to the flowers. 

 

For those of us lucky enough to have a garden or use an outdoor space, consider letting the grass grow long or setting aside some of your outdoor space for nature to take over – it’s amazing how quickly wildlife finds its way to you. I’ve allowed our grass to grow long in my own garden which is just outside the centre of York and within a short time my family have seen frogs and crickets in the long grass together with native flowers. Remember that native plants that we class as weeds such as Dandelions provide a long flowering period and play a significant role in supporting pollinators. If we can learn to appreciate them and encourage longer grass, perhaps create a small pond (as water sources are vital) and making more space for nature, then we are actively contributing to a larger movement that is determined to ensure the natural world is there for future generations to enjoy. 

 

We invite you to come and explore our wildflower meadow and we hope that it inspires you to think about what you could do to welcome nature into your gardens – we are aware that many of you already do!  

 

If you would like to help us keep the Gardens looking beautiful, you can donate via our website yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk