Professor Chris Baines, one of the UK’s leading independent environmentalists and the person who kick-started the modern wildlife gardening movement yesterday launched Stroud Valleys Project latest campaign at the town’s Bisley Road Cemetery. The charity, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary is searching for 25 wildflower meadow sites to make, monitor or maintain.
Wildflowers and plants are being lost from our environment at an accelerating rate and in Gloucestershire an estimated one plant species is becoming extinct every two years. Last year national charity Plantlife released results of their study showing that 10 plant species have become extinct during the 60 years of Queen Elizabeth ll reign.
“Wildflowers and plants are essential to our lives in a way that our society is just beginning to fully realise,“ said Chris Baines whose 1980s BBC TV series ‘Blue Tits and Bumblebees’ and books ‘A guide to Habitat Creation’ and ‘How to make a Wildlife Garden’ inspired millions to change the way they garden.
“The good news is that we can reverse this loss and we can all do something to help right now,” explained Chris. “Meadows are natural habitats that can be made on any suitable bit of land – even in a back garden. When created and managed properly meadows are home to a vast number of plants which in turn support all kinds of wildlife including bees and birds. This is why Stroud Valleys Project wildflower festival is important to in making everyone realise what they can do and identifying 25 wildflower meadow sites to make, monitor or maintain would be a great start to spearheading the revival of wildflowers around the district.”
“Over 97 percent of meadows in the UK have been lost since recording began in the 17th century,” said SVP chief executive Clare Mahdiyone. “And now less than 15,000 acres of lowland meadow remain – roughly the size of Bristol – so this is why SVP is launching a wildflower and meadow campaign to mark our 25th anniversary.”
Stroud's Museum in the Park has been awarded a grant of just over £50,000 by Arts Council England for a community project to clear the ground in its derelict walled garden in advance of its forthcoming regeneration.
A bumper ‘crop’ of newts was found during annual Great Crested Newt survey in Stonehouse by Stroud Valleys Project volunteers.
Clare Mahdiyone, SVP Chief Executive explained, “After the success of the wildflower meadow at the Olympics last year we started planning what we would do to help stop the loss of wildflower meadows locally. According to Plantlife, a national plant charity, 97 percent of wildflower meadows have been lost since 1947.
Stroud Valleys Project is starting a six-weeks veg-growing course on Tuesday 19th March, 10am-1pm. The food growing course is designed for people who want to get more confident to grow their own food.
The Friends of Glendower’s co-ordinator Anthony R Burton, MBE, who recently celebrated his 75th birthday, said: "As a retired person of some twenty years and involved in work-parties for Stroud Valleys Project, I can vouch for the immeasurable benefits that volunteering brought to me personally - physically, mentally and socially. I can see how unemployed, disabled and disadvantaged people’s self-esteem improves through volunteering, and how SVP’s community work is appreciated by local residents.”
Five local companies signed up to support the Stroud Valleys Project appeal last week and the charity hopes that more will follow suit. The companies are Stroud Auctions from Bath Road Trading Estate, Stroud Brewery, Brockworth based Days Cottage who are regulars at the Farmers’ Market, Stroud Nature, who organise the Festival of Nature and Red Kite Environment, a specialist consultancy.