Wild flower meadow in Leeds

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 14 Aug, 2013 9:25 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-envir ... 3669941The UK has lost an estimated 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930sResearchers have planted flower meadows in four UK cities as part of a study to improve understanding of urbanisation on insect pollinators.Continuing development means that urban areas are growing, and researchers are gathering data to see if floral-rich city habitats would benefit wildlife.The Urban Pollinators Project is the first citywide survey of its kind to assess the role of all urban habitats.The team plan to share their findings at a conference next year.The UK's main pollinators are insects, such as bees, butterflies and hoverfliesThe three-year £1.3m project involves scientists from four UK universities - Bristol, Reading, Leeds and Edinburgh - and is now in its final year.I wonder if this includes the meadow that suddenly appeared alongside King Lane?

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 14 Aug, 2013 10:37 pm

That's very interesting raveydavey.I took this photo of the King Lane 'meadow' on August 6 2013. It does though seem rather small if it is part of the research project, so I wonder if it is a small scale trial for something else? A SL thread titled 'An area of grass on King Lane killed by weed killer (?)' started on May 17 2012 is related. This the link to that thread:- http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... eadID=4002

grumpybloke · Post by **grumpybloke** » Thu 15 Aug, 2013 10:58 am

I'm surprised that some idiot on a motor mower hasn't demolished it! There could be so many more flowers for insects if they did not hack down grass verges where there is no line of sight problems for vehicles.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 15 Aug, 2013 8:15 pm

Leodian wrote: That's very interesting raveydavey.I took this photo of the King Lane 'meadow' on August 6 2013. It does though seem rather small if it is part of the research project, so I wonder if it is a small scale trial for something else? A SL thread titled 'An area of grass on King Lane killed by weed killer (?)' started on May 17 2012 is related. This the link to that thread:- http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... eadID=4002 Hi Leodian - thats why I thought of the flowers on King lane - it's an exact rectangle of flowers and plants, just stuck there at the side of the road and must have been planned by someone. Perhaps the hope is that it will gradually spread out of it's own volition over a period of years?More on the story at the Yorkshire Morning Post: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... -1-5953282

johnnyg · Post by **johnnyg** » Sun 18 Aug, 2013 12:58 pm

The one on Scott Hall Road just held giant daisies, or shasta daisies to give them their proper name.

Tyke · Post by **Tyke** » Sun 18 Aug, 2013 5:14 pm

Two areas that were back to backs in Holbeck were seeded with wild flowers last year and very nice they looked as well.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 18 Aug, 2013 7:57 pm

johnnyg wrote: The one on Scott Hall Road just held giant daisies, or shasta daisies to give them their proper name. Thanks johnnyg. I had wondered what they were as I've only seen that plot when passing by on a bus.

johnnyg · Post by **johnnyg** » Sun 18 Aug, 2013 8:21 pm

The Shasta daisies from Scott Hall Road, photographed in June.