Cumbria Wildlife Trust is calling for volunteers to help plant rare wildflowers in South Lakeland. The trust aims to grow 40,000 plants over the next two years to help protect disappearing wildflower species.
Tanya St. Pierre, manager of the charity’s grassland and pollinator team, explained that the initiative would help preserve species of wildflowers that are at risk of disappearing. Volunteers can get involved in various ways, from sowing seeds in the nursery to planting the small plug plants across the Cumbrian landscape.
The trust plans to reintroduce or strengthen populations of 14 rare plant species in the region. Among these are marsh-marigolds and lady’s mantles. So far, 24 farmers and landowners have agreed to allow the plants to grow on their land.
The project has already begun collecting seeds, and the next step is to engage volunteers who will help plant them in the trust’s nursery. St. Pierre emphasized the importance of involving young volunteers, who will receive training from staff at the Kew Millennium Seed Bank.
More volunteers will be needed in the coming months and years to plant the wildflower plugs around South Lakeland. This project is supported by a £250,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
