April 2025

Have you received one of our wildflower seed envelopes?

 During April 2025 Sustainable Bucklebury volunteers will be distributing Gardening for Wildlife leaflets along with a packet of annual wildflower seeds. We hope that you get to plant them so that Bucklebury has even more blooms for the pollinators this year with all the benefits that brings. If you have not received an envelope or would like some additional seeds please scroll down to find out about pick-up points.

The Gardening for Wildlife leaflet hopes to encourage as many people as possible to take, often very simple, steps to encourage pollinators and other wildlife into our gardens.  These include leaving areas of the lawn unmown, planting a tree or shrub with berries or fruits for the birds and of course, not using pesticides and insecticides.  More suggestions and details on gardening for wildlife can be found on this link.

Planting your wildflower seeds

With our leaflet we provided an envelope of wildflower seed mix; which includes corn cockle, cornflower, field poppy, corn marigold, birdsfoot trefoil and a tiny amount of clover.  There will be approx. 300 seeds which will cover 1 square meter of ground or several pots.

Sow the seeds in April or early May.

Rake soil in your garden to provide a fine even surface.  Or if using pots, ensure good drainage, and fill to a few cm below the rim with compost, garden soil or a mixture of the two.  The seeds will need a sunny location.

Thinly sow the seeds and cover very lightly with compost/soil. Do not bury the seeds too deep as this may stop germination. 

Firm down and water gently so as not to disturb the seeds.

Keep watered, particularly during dry weather.

Wildflowers thrive on poor soils, so do not use rich compost or manure/fertilisers.

We would like to thank Bucklebury Farm for funding the Gardening for Wildlife project.

Present our leaflet at the Farm for 10% off entry, retail or the café.

Seed Pick-up Points

If you haven’t received the wildflower seeds then we have additional packets available at Peaches Stores in Upper Bucklebury, and L Interiors in Chapel Row, so do pick some up if you would like them.

Thanks to our local, sustainable flower farmer, Marlston Farmgirl, we also have a wonderful range of additional seeds available from the same locations.  They include cottage garden favourites and a few more unusual varieties.