Council begins creation of new wildflower meadow at Fairstead Rec

This initiative marks one of the first on‑the‑ground actions delivered through the council’s new Pollinator Action Plan, aimed at protecting and restoring vital insect species across the borough.

The meadow will be established using green hay, a traditional and highly effective method for restoring native wildflower habitats. Over recent months, the council’s Biodiversity Officer, Chris Walker, has been developing a detailed plan for the site. This week, the project reached a key milestone with the arrival and spreading of the green hay.

Cllr Michael de Whalley, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity at the borough council, said: “I am extremely happy to see this wildflower meadow creation finally come to fruition. We have some wonderful green spaces in West Norfolk, but establishing a true wildflower meadow filled with native species will provide much‑needed habitat for wildlife.

Fairstead Rec is the perfect location for this project, and it shows how we in West Norfolk can play our part in tackling biodiversity loss.

Our Pollinator Action Plan is a vital step in redressing habitat destruction and protecting the insects that sustain our ecosystems. Protecting our environment is one of the council’s four key priorities, and this work demonstrates that commitment.”

The green hay we are using at Fairstead Rec was generously donated by Martha’s Meadow, a two‑acre wild garden in Southery. Landowner Adrian Pope has spent years developing the site and now includes 70 native meadow plant species—making it an exceptional donor site for habitat restoration.

Earlier this week, Adrian cut his crop, and council staff collected a bale of freshly cut green hay. Because green hay must be spread within 24 hours, volunteers from the Nature Volunteer Network joined the team to ensure the hay was laid out quickly and effectively across the prepared ground.

To give the seeds the best chance of germinating, the council prepared the site by cutting the grass lower than usual, creating patches of bare soil where seeds can make direct contact. Over the coming weeks, the hay will dry, the seeds will settle, and the first signs of new growth will begin to appear.

Chris Walker, Council Biodiversity Officer said: “Although establishing a wildflower meadow is a slow process, the long‑term benefits are significant. Once mature, the meadow will support a diverse range of wildlife—including butterflies, bees, beetles, invertebrates, birds, and bats. In time, Fairstead Rec will become a donor site itself, enabling the council to repeat this restoration method in other areas across West Norfolk.”

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and beetles are essential to healthy ecosystems and food production. Their decline is alarming: since 2004, the UK has lost three‑quarters of its insects, many of them pollinators. Wildflower meadows, once common across the country, have declined by 97% since World War II due to development, agricultural intensification, and habitat neglect.

The creation of the Fairstead wildflower meadow is a practical step toward reversing this trend and restoring vital habitat.

The Pollinator Action Plan sets out how the council will:

• Manage council assets to be more pollinator‑friendly.
• Integrate pollinator needs into strategies and policies.
• Lead by example by managing land in ways that benefit pollinators.
• Support local initiatives and encourage community‑led action.

The plan complements wider environmental strategies, including the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), both of which aim to restore and connect habitats across the borough.

Further work will take place at Fairstead Rec later in the year, with opportunities for residents and community groups to get involved in planting, monitoring, and caring for the new meadow.

To learn more about Green Hay, see the 'How to Enhance a Grassland Using Green Hay' document from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.