Medieval walls to be given new burst of floral colour

A planting scheme is underway to bring increasingly diverse species of wildflowers to the embankments of the centuries-old walls.

Members of the Friends of York Walls and volunteers from the British Trust for Conservation have joined forces with the Buglife charity, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and York Council to plant wildflower plugs into the existing grassland.

York Council’s cabinet member for city strategy, Coun Dave Merrett, said: “We often think about the large schemes and how they affect our city, but the smaller schemes are equally as important in helping to support and encourage the growth and development of York’s flora and fauna.”

The plants which are being introduced along the embankments have been grown from locally sourced seed collected from flower-rich grassland sites in York.

The planting will also provide a better habitat and food supply for pollinating insects, including bees and butterflies.

The flowers will include Knapweed, Ox-eye Daisy, Birds Foot Trefoil, Cowslip and other species more likely to be seen in meadows.

email paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk