From a patch of grass to a bank bursting with wildflowers, Pleck Meadow's butterfly bank has come a long way in just one year!
Constructed in September 2024, the bank was installed to support native wildflowers and basking invertebrates (primarily butterflies) as it heats up better with its low-nutrient limestone slopes. The bank had a rough start following seed sowing and plug planting in Spring 2025 as we had one of our driest springs ever! Despite this hardship, the bank sprang to life in late summer and some species have already become well-established such as Black Knapweed, Kidney Vetch, Wild Carrot, Yarrow, Self-heal, Ox-eye Daisy, Scarlet Pimpernel, Viper's Bugloss, Wild Basil, and more! This wide range of wildflowers will be supporting all sorts of insect life with their pollen and nectar.
Thank you to our Hyndburn's Nature Reserves volunteers who helped with seed sowing and weeding throughout the year, and to Peel Park Primary School who helped us with planting and sowing in the spring!
Soon, the bank will have its vegetation cut back and removed to mimic the natural process of herbivory to avoid nutrient build up. The perennial wildflowers will come back even better next year!
For more info about practical conservation ongoing at Peel Park & the Coppice LNR, please contact robert.gabryszak@prospectsfoundation.org.uk.
Before and After Construction
Black Knapweed
Peel Park Primary School Seed Sowing & Plug Planting
Ox-eye Daisy
Weeding with Volunteers
