Newbury Town Council seeking volunteers to help seed a new wildflower meadow at Greenham House Gardens on December 10

Newbury Town Council is once again calling for green-thumbed residents to join it in creating a new natural space for the town.

The council’s green spaces working group, in partnership with Newbury in Bloom, is seeking volunteers to help seed a new wildflower meadow at Greenham House Gardens on Sunday, December 10, between 10am and 1pm.

It is hoped that once grown, the wildflowers will attract insects, other invertebrates (including butterflies, bees, spiders and millipedes), birds and mammals, as well as providing a splash of colour to an urban area.

Town council leader Gary Norman (Lib Dem, East Fields) said: “We have already established successful wildflower meadows at Victoria Park, City Recreation Ground and Roebutts Close.

“They look beautiful throughout the summer as well as creating havens for bees and other insects.

“We would encourage everyone, especially those with an interest in biodiversity and wildflowers, to come along and help.”

Vaughan Miller (Lib Dem, East Fields) said: “The wildflower area is just part of the town council’s plans to improve Greenham House Gardens.

“We will also be asking volunteers to help plant a native deciduous hedgerow in the spring and, as a wholesale change to the planting scheme, we will be adding perennial plants rather than planting annual summer and winter bedding each year.

“This move to cultivating perennial plants will continue to reduce the council’s carbon footprint, as new plants will not need to be produced every year.

“Moving forward, we will be updating the waste bins at Greenham House Gardens so they will include recycling options for users of the park too.”