Friends of the Lake District (Fold) plans to introduce 1,500 wildflower plants to an upland hay meadow at Mazonwath, in Little Asby, Cumbria. This project aims to reintroduce native species that have been lost due to some farming practices.
A spokesperson for the environmental charity stated that plant roots contribute to moisture retention and soil health, and their texture helps slow the flow of overland water. They added that this conservation work is important for providing a future home for insects and birds.
Fold is collaborating with Cumbria Wildlife Trust on the Cumbria Seed Bank Project, which seeks to reverse the decline of grassland habitats in the county. This two-year project, in partnership with Kew Millennium Seed Bank, aims to collect, store, and sow seeds from rare and declining grassland species found in Cumbria.
The charity will be planting species including great burnet, bird's foot trefoil, black knapweed, cranesbills, oxeye daisy, and vetches. A Fold spokesperson said the project aims to introduce harder-to-establish plants and inform future work to safeguard vulnerable plant populations in Cumbria.