Wildflower meadows

Wildflowers

We have committed to sowing multiple wildflower areas across the borough to both provide colour and to support insects and pollinators. The wildflower seeds that we use contains flowers species that are not native to the UK. Using non-native species extends the season that the flowers are in bloom and provides additional habitat and food for insects and pollinators. 

The visual impact of the flower mixtures is one of the benefits you can experience, of equal importance is the commitment to the environmental responsibility:

• helps reduce our carbon footprint
• introduces more ecological practices
• adds value to the landscape and natural spaces
• brings wildlife back into the town.

Wildflowers need to be left until they have died before they are cut. This will usually be done at the end of September or early October, giving the wildflowers the best opportunity to come back the following year

As well as brightening up the borough, our urban wildflower meadows are vital for our ecosystem. They provide pollinators, such as bees and butterflies and other insects, with food shelter and places to breed.

In 2023, following positive feedback from residents, South Ribble Borough Council will add 3 new sites to its urban wildflower planting programme. Seeds will be sown shortly after Easter in the following 46 areas.

Bamber Bridge, Walton-Le-Dale, and Higher Walton

• Withy Grove Park - on right at entrance to leisure centre on Brindle Rd
• Brownedge Road where the Bamber Bridge football sign is on the grass
• Gregson Lane Playing Field
• King George V Higher Walton - on mound on left at entrance
• Holland House bank on left at entrance
• Carrwood Road/Millwood Road opposite The Hunters Pub
• Along verge on Carrwood Way
• Roundabout at junction of Carrwood Road, Carrwood Way & Valley View
• Bellis Way at rear of playground
• Hennel Lane on banking in front of houses
• Roundabout at top of Brownedge Road - as you cross over to Bamber Bridge
• Outside the Hob Inn at Bamber Bridge
• Corner of Cinnamon Hill Drive North and Chatsworth Way

Leyland and Farington

• Moss Side Village Green
• St John's Green Opposite 34,32,30, 28 Bannister Drive
• Broadfield Drive Opposite St Mary's Church
• Dalehead Road Green
• Farington Park - where paths meet near Bashall Grove
• Leyland Way - on banking
• In front of Mini Golf at Worden
• Tractor Roundabout
• In front of Bobby the horse
• Field at end of Cowling Way (can be seen from Schleswig Way)
• Western Drive
• Bent Lane
• Field next to Barnhey/Leyland Lane
• Leadale Green
• Buckshaw Village - near SR sign on Central Ave
• Buckshaw Village - roundabout on Central Ave
• Shruggs Wood (perennial)
• Tank Roundabout

Penwortham

• Kingsfold Drive/ Hawksbury Drive end by fence on banking
• Hawksbury Drive opposite shops
• Pope Lane Park
• Triangle on Cop Lane next to the cycle path through to HGP
• Margaret Road - land not available for a meadow this year because of work underway along the Ribble.
• Queensway
• Marshalls Brow - opposite Middleforth Green Park car park, on grass triangle
• Bank Top Road playground

Western Parishes

• Much Hoole Playing Field, Northern Avenue
• Shirley Lane, Longton
• Hutton Playing Field wildlife area (perennial)
• Lindle Lane/Lindle Close, Hutton                                                                                  
• Front of hedge from Hutton to Longton
• The Grove Longton
• Gill Lane Walmer Bridge/junction of bypass
• Dob Lane Walmer Bridge/junction of bypass

Lostock Hall

• Todd Lane South, before the railway bridge
• Patch of land at junction of Wateringpool Lane and Mercer Road 
• The roundabout at The Cawsey and Leyland Road

Wildflower locations are reviewed annually with some locations being changed or removed. When preparing the ground for the coming season, the dormant seeds in the ground are disturbed which then germinate faster than the seeds sown. To alleviate this a particular area will be left to fallow for the coming season. That site will be revisited the following year to assess its suitability for an urban flower meadow