THE borough is coming into bloom says Solihull Council as some three million bulbs and millions of wildflowers planted as part of its Wildlife Ways project come into flower.
As well as bulb planting – including crocuses, alliums, wild daffodils, snowdrops, bluebells and wood anemones, the project has overseen 26 hectares of wildflower seeding and 48,000 square metres of wildflower turf – the equivalent of around 57 football pitches of wildflowers.
These include oxeye daisy, wild carrot, red campion, yellow rattle, common knapweed, lesser stitchwort and musk mallow.
As well as making grass verges and green areas more beautiful the flowers will provide food for pollinators, including bees which are in sharp decline.
They also help insects, birds and mammals move across the borough between parks and open spaces preventing these spaces from becoming ‘islands’ and encouraging wildlife to flourish.
“Wildlife Ways has overseen a huge amount of planting across the borough since 2019,” said Councillor Ken Hawkins, the borough’s cabinet member for environment and highways.
“The project is giving some much needed support to local wildlife and local ecosystems while at the same time making our streets more attractive places to live, walk and work.”
The project is coming to an end soon, however it is hoped Silhillians will reap the benefits for many decades to come.
“Last year I know people really valued seeing these beautiful flowers during their daily exercise and many people sent in photos they had taken while out and about to the Wildlife Ways project team,” said Coun Hawkins.
“We’d really appreciate people sharing their pictures of Solihull in bloom on social media too – so that even more people can enjoy them.”
The council is appealing for people to send in their photographs of the Wildlife Ways bulbs and flowers on social media at hashtag – #bloomingwildlifeways.
