South Ayrshire Council is introducing a new pilot to develop wildflower meadows

The council has previously said it is committed to the protection and conservation of the area’s biodiversity.

Through the Ayrshire Biodiversity Action Plan 2007 – 2010, the council commits to preserving and enhancing its natural environment.

Biodiversity is a term we use to describe the variety of life on Earth. This provides the support that humans require to survive.

In May 2019, The United Nations body on Biodiversity published a global assessment of biodiversity which revealed a rapid deterioration of our natural environments.

Annual and perennial meadows, alongside areas with an altered grass cutting regime, will feature across eight sites in South Ayrshire, and will help to create a more diverse habitat for wildlife and plants.

The pilot sites will be in a variety of locations including parks, general public space and housing areas.

Interest in wildflower meadows has increased over the last year as normal maintenance was not possible during periods of lockdown, and vast amounts of diverse plant material were able to flourish.

The sites will be prepared towards the end of this month, and council park rangers will keep a close eye on each one to evaluate which area has the greatest biodiversity benefit.

Councillor Ian Cochrane, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “Biodiversity is an integral part of our action to address the impact of climate change on our native species. I’m really pleased that we’re encouraging the development of wildflower meadows to create a friendlier environment for plants and wildlife.”

He added: “We want to make South Ayrshire

a better place to live, and promoting a sustainable and green environment is a key part of our future. I’m looking forward to seeing how these meadows develop over the next few months.”