Field of dreams

HELP OUR PASTURES BLOOM THIS NATIONAL MEADOWS DAY

'Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as Heaven whispers, "Do you like it? I did it just for you." ' Max Lucado

Christian Dior once wrote "After women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world."

The first Saturday of July is 'National Meadows Day' (this year - 3rd July 2021), an annual celebration of the beautiful wildflower meadows found throughout the UK, which also provides opportunities to find out more about them and why they're so important to wildlife.

It's frightening to think that 97% of our meadows have been eradicated since 1945 which has terrible consequences for our insects - nearly 1,400 species of which, rely on meadow plants to survive. There are things we can do to halt the decline. Various organisations will be holding events up and down the country and this year, Plantlife , who have been leading on the creation of new meadows around the UK (with 12,000 acres created and restored since 2013) have launched a new meadow hub full of information about creating and caring for meadows so you can get involved first-hand.

You can also sign their Meadows Petition asking the government to urgently draft environmental legislation to ensure that our existing meadows are offered protection.