Flagship Group creates hundreds more wildflower meadows

Flagship Group, a housing provider managing around 1,200 green spaces across East Anglia, expanded its scheme to about 200 sites this year after a pilot at 30 sites two years ago.

The initiative aims to improve these spaces for wildlife and residents by creating more habitats for different species.

Daniel Salliss, Flagship's biodiversity and land manager, said: “It is a change from the way we use to manage our green spaces when we regularly kept all the grass cut short.

"But the key thing is that we know that it’s better for nature.

Wildflowers in bloom at one of Flagship’s sites – called Swallowtails in Martham (Image: Flagship Group)

“It’s about listening to the residents and making it work the best for them, as well as for natures.

"Having a range of different habitats on a site is good for biodiversity, and it’s much better than keeping the grass short everywhere."

The meadows are also praised for their environmental benefits, such as absorbing more groundwater and preserving carbon in the soil, which can help prevent flooding.

Flagship received positive feedback, with residents noting an increase in wildlife, including bees, birds, stag beetles, and meadow blue butterflies.

Flagship Group’s biodiversity and land manager, Daniel Salliss, left, and neighbourhood operations manager Ryan Cox at one of the wildflower meadow sites in Horning (Image: Flagship Group)

In July, Cromer Green Spaces awarded its first biodiversity recognition plaque to Flagship for the Meadow Close wildflower meadow in Cromer.

During winter, the sites will be cut regularly, but from next spring, around 350 green spaces will be part of the project.

Mr Salliss predicts many of the meadows will be more colourful next year due to wildflower seed planting.

By 2030, Flagship aims to have wildflower meadows in most of its green spaces.