NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL

Wildflower planting

Wildflower planting in town parks

We are looking to improve areas of amenity grassland within eight of our town parks and develop native biodiversity meadows. This is part of a larger meadow project, and fulfills many of the actions from our Biodiversity Action Plan.

As part of these works a public consultation was undertaken at the end of last year to better inform what would be most appropriate within each park.  Using this information, we have developed a tailored a plan for individual parks.

Local schools and the local community will be invited along to a community involvement day for each of the parks, this will include schools and the general public. The events will involve planting flowers and bulbs in March 2024. Ploughing, rotovating and sowing of the meadows is to be undertaken in October this year. With flower and bulb planting in March 2024.

Signs will be installed at each of the sites to inform visitors about the meadows and their benefits.

Buff tail bee on wildflowers
Buff-tailed bumblebee on yellow rattle (picture by Suzanne Bairner - Buglife)

Consultation results

A number of methods were employed to gather views on the biodiversity meadows in each park: 

  • A questionnaire created in partnership with North Lanarkshire Biodiversity Officers
  • Social media campaign
  • Poster campaign
  • Leaflet campaign – doors, parks users, schools, nurseries, libraries
  • Email interested groups and individuals
  • Visit to Parks – Face to Face consultation

In total there were 143 responses. The majority of the respondents, if not all were local to the particular park they were canvassed on.

46 respondents, representing each of the parks, expressed a wish to become involved in the future of the project.  In total 64 respondents expressed a wish to be kept informed of progress of the project. 

There was overwhelming support for the project with majorities from each of the parks wishing to see Biodiversity Meadows in their urban parks. The main driver for the support was to help improve biodiversity and endangered pollinators. The secondary driver for support was carbon capture – mitigate climate change. The third driver was split between improve aesthetics of the park, improve educational opportunities, make financial savings and improve safety and cleanliness.

There were concerns regarding the location and the appropriateness of some of the Biodiversity Meadow Proposals. These concerns centred around activity space being reduced, user groups, for example schools using areas proposed for meadows.  These concerns have been addressed in the updated plans.

Planting locations
Town Park Area Details
Burngreen Park, Kilsyth Several locations in the area to the east near the ash football pitch. Plug and native bulb planting with spring and summer plants. Wetland plug plants to be incorporated into small pond wetland area.
Centenery Park Alexander Street, Airdrie Extension to wetland area near pond through rotovating and seeding with native wetland wildflower seed. Woodland bulb and plug planting within woodland avenue to the east of the site.
Glenboig Park Marnoch Drive, Glenboig Ploughing, rotovating and seeding with native wildflower mix at amenity grassland strip nest to Marnoch Drive and small area near entrance at Main Street.
West End Park Bank Street, Coatbridge Ploughing, rotovating and seeding with native wildflowers an area of amenity grassland to the east of the bowling green. Plug and bulb planting the area to the south of the bowling green and along path edge that leads from Blaire Road to Bank Street with native spring and summer plants.
Central Park Henderson Street, Airdrie Ploughing, rotovating and native wildflower seeding area of amenity grassland to the to the east of the football pitch. Native plug and bulb planting with spring and summer plants along either side of the path under tree line.
Bellhaven Park Glenpath Street, Wishaw Tidy up existing meadow and extending it by ploughing rotovating and seeding with wildflower mix.  Native plug and bulb plating along back of houses on Glen Road. Create poppy field near to the war memorial.
Duchess Park Avon Street, Motherwell Native plug and bulb planting around the eastern and western periphery of the site. Create poppy field near to the war memorial. Scarify and sow native wildflower seed area on old council compound.
Dalzell Estate Motherwell, Cricket Pitch Improve existing wildflower meadow and extend the existing meadow by ploughing, rotovating and native wildflower seeding the site. Plant native bulbs and plug plants around trees within the cricket field.
     

Page last updated:
12 Oct 2023

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