Biodiversity Pilot Project kicks off with wildflower planting

As part of our commitment to a greener future, we’re launching a Biodiversity Pilot Project in communities across our service area.

The project kicks off on Monday 25 April when we start to plant wildflowers across an area in Donington, near Spalding.

Libby Kerman, our Environmental Management Trainee is part of the project, which will be run in conjunction with Ground Control, a UK-based grounds maintenance company that specialises in sustainable initiatives.

She said: “We want to work with residents to create green spaces that work for our communities and for nature. As a first step, we are planting wildflower seeds across an area in Donington. The UK alone has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s. We hope this wildflower meadow can provide a space for residents to slow down and reconnect with nature, after all it does so much for us.

“We understand the importance of green spaces for our wellbeing, mental health, and the wider environment. We want to make our green spaces a central part of our sustainability journey, helping us to reduce our carbon emissions and create healthy, biodiverse neighbourhoods for all.

“The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with nearly 50% of our biodiversity being lost over the past 200 years. The UK Government have commitment to manage 30% of all land for nature by 2030.

“We want to play our part by looking at how we can diversify our green spaces, allowing local wildlife to recover whilst creating healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods.”

Some of the benefits of wildflowers in local communities include:

• They provide habitats for pollinators
• They hold nutrients in the soil
• Provide resources for other wildlife species such as larks, robins, and finches.
• Create a space for residents to enjoy and reconnect with nature.
• Wildflowers can improve air quality and reduce carbon dioxide concentrations

If you have any ideas or questions regarding future Green Space projects at LHP please email us. If you would like to volunteer to help with planting the wildflowers, let us know via email or just come along and find the team on Cowley’s Road during the day.