Summer used to bring with it the scent of fresh cut grass, but thanks to initiatives such as No Mow May, which encourages wildflower growth and nectar for our bees, the season is now punctuated by a different sensory experience – the buzzing of insects and vibrant bursts of colour. This is certainly the case at Quorum Park, where we’re proud to be part of the rewilding revolution!
Those that are beginning to return to the office after working remotely during the pandemic may have noticed the flowers around our signage that have been specifically chosen for their ability to attract bees and other pollinating species as well as our patches of uncultivated grass.
We’ve purposely left areas surrounding the park to grow wild and have planted seeded wildflowers to help our meadows along. We’ve also stopped trimming back hedges during bird nesting seasons and have seen our previously green hedging replaced with walls of flowers and colour. It’s particularly lovely to see such a variety of blooms during Every Flower Counts Week, which takes place until July 18th.
Like No Mow May, the week is an initiative from conservation charity Plantlife that encourages householders, business owners and those responsible for public open spaces to simply count the number of flowers in a square metre patch of lawn to understand how much life is supported by them, with a personal nectar score.
It’s well documented how much of our world’s food production relies upon the humble bee, and surveys like this, while simple, can really help plant a seed (excuse the pun!) for people in terms of their understanding of how much impact they can have, at work and at home, in terms of supporting wildlife and reducing environmental damage.
Our events and sustainability manager Laura McGrath said: “Increased biodiversity is directly linked to tackling climate change. Often, softer, more ecologically-focused elements of sustainability such as these are written off as ‘the fluffy stuff’, but it needs to be an integral part of the planet’s recovery.
“The best thing about rewilding is that, unlike many other elements of sustainability, which cause short term pain for long term gain, from the outset this is visually stunning, cost effective and easy to do, and reaches a whole new audience of supporters while turning hearts and minds on to the wider cause.
“The wildflower areas and rewilded grass spaces we’ve introduced so far look so much better than the bare and perfectly manicured lawns that were there before. It may seem like only a small tweak, but when you consider our efforts represent one link in a huge chain of local authorities and businesses making similar moves across the country, I think its positive impact on the biodiversity of the UK can’t be overstated.”
The approach being taken at Quorum Park is being echoed by many throughout the region, with our gardens and outdoor spaces having been so important to us during extended periods of lockdown. As challenging as the last 18 months have been, one positive development is the opportunity that’s been provided for people to nurture their gardens and community spaces, and change their behaviour and understanding in relation to how we manage our green areas, both residentially and commercially, so we can share our urban areas with an increasing diversity of animals and plants.
We’d love it if members of the Quorum Park community would take part in Every Flower Counts Week, and let us know their score so we can share and celebrate our collective impact. To contact us with your personal nectar score, or to find out more about our other environmental initiatives, visit quorumpark.com.