The Mega Flora project is a trial project bringing together many different council departments, to look at how to naturalise and enhance grassland management within North Lanarkshire. This trial project aims to explore new approaches to deliver multiple benefits in order to create diverse and healthy greenspaces for local people to enjoy as well as benefit wildlife, reduce biodiversity loss and help combat the climate emergency.
This trial project is specifically focusing on the grasslands within Strathclyde Country Park and Palacerigg Country Park. A few other areas within residential developments have been identified and included within the project.
This change in management will mean less grass cutting throughout the year in specific areas. Grass will be longer throughout the summer but will be cut at least once a year in the autumn/winter. A strip of grass next to all paths will continue to be mown so they are still easy to use. Fewer cuts mean less machinery running. This will reduce fuel usage and help tackle climate change as well as creating safer, more peaceful places for people and wildlife.
In order to give wildflower seeds the best starting point we will be starting to prepare the areas this autumn. They will appear bare for a while until the plants start to flower in spring next year. They will look more wild and have changing flowers on show through the seasons.
It can take several years to transform the short cut grass into a wildflowers, so keep watching the area as it changes over time and check back here where we will post photos, and the results of wildlife surveys.