Wildflower meadows are one of the rarest habitats in the UK so we’re working with Ella’s Kitchen to protect and restore them. Discover what we’re doing and where to enjoy a wildflower meadow this summer.
Ella’s Kitchen, the UK’s most loved kids’ food brand and certified B-Corp, is committed to bold, measurable action to tackle climate change and protect nature for future generations.
That’s why Ella’s Kitchen is partnering with the RSPB to protect and restore 30 million square feet of nature-rich wildflower meadows and grassland across RSPB nature reserves by 2030.
A pipeline of projects has been planned to maintain and restore these vital landscapes and protect the homes of birds, bees and bugs.
With UK wildflower meadows so vastly depleted, it’s essential that we create new areas of species-rich meadows.
From bird's-foot trefoils and Oxeye Daisies in chalk grasslands, to acid-rich uplands with Harebells and dog-violets, we need to regenerate the right plants in the right places to have maximum positive impact for bees, bugs and butterflies.
Through a mixture of seed sowing, plug planting, and allowing natural regeneration, Ella’s Kitchen and the RSPB will convert land into meadows and grasslands that are alive with colour across the UK.
Wildflower meadows and grasslands are vitally important habitats for all sorts of wildlife. We're talking butterflies that flit between wildflowers to the hum of bees foraging for pollen in the sunshine. Green Woodpeckers chatter as they hunt for ants, and Skylarks sing in the sky above. As dusk falls, moths emerge, attracted to the evening perfume of flowers, and if you’re lucky you may even spot a silent Barn Owl as it glides across the meadow...
However, these vibrant habitats are now rare. We’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows in the UK since the 1930s. That’s why it’s so important to reverse the loss of wildflower meadows and encourage nature to bloom in these spaces around the UK.
It might surprise you that meadows need to be looked after - if left alone, they will eventually turn to woodland. Wildflower meadows are man-made landscapes, harking all the way back to the Bronze Age and the beginning of crop-growing. Over that time, a vast number of species have evolved to thrive in these habitats. But now they’re disappearing.
So, we'll also be looking after existing wildflower meadows: planting, removing invasive species and grazing or cutting, to ensure they remain biodiverse and continue to flourish year after year.
It’ll take a few years until some of the places we’re turning into new wildflower meadows and grasslands are blooming beautifully, but you can still see wildflowers at their best from May – August at some of the reserves Ella’s are supporting:
Horseshoe Meadow holds at least 65 wildflower plant species (not including grasses) that provide flowering plants from March to November.
Will you spot Essex Skipper butterflies darting between clovers, bumblebees feeding on the bright pink spikes of Pyramidal Orchids, or Tree Sparrows and Goldfinches zooming across the meadow?
Twenty Acres is a Coronation Meadow, one of sixty wildflower meadows supported by King Charles to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. One the last remaining fragments of native wildflower rich grassland in West Dunbartonshire, look for white sprays of Whorled Caraway, fluffy yellow Tufted Loosestrife, and pink frayed Ragged Robin.
Dove Stone Nature reserve features a tapestry of habitats, from mixed woodland and grasslands to open moorland and blanket bog, all teeming with life.
Currently at Dove Stone are meadows of Betony, Field Scabious Lady’s Bedstraw, Common Knapweed and Yarrow. Our partnership with Ella’s Kitchen will fund a 7-year project to enrich and diversify rough grassland swards with wildflower seed and plug plants.
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We have more than 170 nature reserves across the UK. These special places for nature are some of the best places to see wildlife in the UK. From coastal adventures and wetland wanders to tranquil woodlands and beautiful grasslands, there’s plenty to enjoy and discover.
At home - Here’s how you can create your own wildflower meadow or plant wildlife-friendly flowers to help pollinators.
Businesses - We are supporting businesses like Ella’s Kitchen to invest in nature-based solutions. This refers to actions to protect, restore and sustainably manage ecosystems that will restore the stocks of natural capital on which we rely, and which in turn provide a wealth of life-giving ecosystem services such as flood protection, climate change mitigation, increased biodiversity and water quality.
