WILDFLOWER meadows sown by local children and residents have transformed derelict land in Liverpool City Region – bringing colour and nature to urban communities.
The ten sites – now in full bloom – were created by the Head North for Beauty project with a £49K grant from the £500K Liverpool City Region Community Environment Fund, established by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram.
They form part of a new wildflower meadow trail from Everton in North Liverpool, through to Litherland in Sefton.
The sites were ploughed in April and schoolchildren from All Saints Catholic Primary School and residents helped sow the new meadows.
Social enterprise Regenerus, the organisation which brought the Anthony Gormley statues to Crosby Beach, has partnered with Scouse Flowerhouse, The National Wildflower Centre, the Eden Project, three local housing associations, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council and the local community to create the meadows which attract wildlife, including bees, and aid carbon capture.
Steve Rotheram said: “We have ambitious plans to tackle climate change in the city region, the climate emergency remains the biggest long-term challenge our region – and in fact the world – faces.
“We can all make a difference if we get together within our communities and each do our bit, whether that’s improving air quality with these beautiful wildflower meadows, or leaving the car at home and walking or cycling to work. Our Community Environment Fund projects are promoting environmental issues at a grassroots level and deserve to be supported.”
Maya, who is one of the pupils from All Saints Catholic Primary School who has been helping with the project said: “I think they’re really pretty and really cool. They’re good for the environment. It saves the planet while making it pretty.”
Head North for Beauty is one of 58 projects across Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral which were awarded funding from the Community Environment Fund.
These projects contribute to the city region’s green commitment by promoting community engagement in local environmental programmes leading to more awareness of environmental issues.
