Hampshire’s Wildflower Turf Ltd has recently been involved in a project to help reinstate an important coastal grassland area along the Fylde Coast in Lancashire after years of heavy construction close by.
The Rossall Coastal Defence Scheme has taken four-years to construct at a cost of £63m. The two-kilometre length of sea defences will now protect 7,500 properties from flooding and was officially opened on the 1st June 2018.
The final part of this ambitious project has been the creation of Larkholme Grasslands ecology park on the landward side of the defences.
Even before work began, the strip of grassland that borders the defences was classed as a Biological Heritage Site due to the rarer species of flora and fauna in existence. The area has since been enhanced, with the grasslands rejuvenated and a promenade featuring artwork and a poetry trail.
With construction work on the sea wall defences already well underway in 2015 and 2016, Landlife (no longer in existence) collected wildflower species from the existing grassland area as a means of ensuring the continuation of local diversity.
In close consultation with Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council, Wildflower Turf Ltd incorporated these native coastal seeds into bespoke species blends and ultimately supplied three different types of bespoke mixes of Wildflower Turf to the project, equating to over 28,000 square metres of bio-diverse turf.
The size of the grassland restoration project itself, coupled with the ongoing construction of the sea defence scheme and prevailing coastal weather conditions, saw the installation of the turf occurring over a number of months at intervals between June 2017 and May 2018.
‘Swale’, ‘Coastal Grassland’, and ‘Bee-Friendly’ were the three resulting blends of bespoke Wildflower Turf produced, with the Bee-Friendly mix the most aesthetically pleasing. This colourful and species-rich blend has been installed in prominent sites of the park and along pathways and key border areas.
Locals and visitors alike have delighted in the rejuvenation of this important ecological area, and the preservation of this Biological Heritage Site is now assured.
Wildflower Turf is the UK’s leading bio-diverse turf supplier. Contact the team on 01256 771222 for further information or visit them online at http://www.wildflowerturf.co.uk.
