WITH National Meadows Day fast approaching on Saturday, July 6, St Stephens by Launceston Rural Parish Council are encouraging others to maintain their local verges.

The day will look to raise awareness of the importance of meadow conservation and to showcase wildflowers and species around the country.

It was common to have natural wildflower meadows in every parish, but today only 2% of the meadows that existed in the 1930s remain. Around 7.5-million acres of wildflower meadows have been lost with far reaching consequences for wildlife habitats.

Wildflower-rich meadows are very rare and important habitats. Some of these grasslands support an amazing number of wildflower species as well as providing habitats for many species of birds, invertebrates, amphibians and mammals.

In particular they provide very important supplies of pollen and nectar for bumblebees and other insect pollinators.

St Stephens by Launceston Rural Parish Council has a Licence to Plant and maintain the verges by Truscott Pond from Cornwall Council.

Parish council chairperson Joan Heaton said: “We have professional advice and are supporting Cornwall Council’s policy of biodiversity by funding the sowing of wildflowers and planting in this beautiful part of our parish. We are creating a glorious meadow by Truscott Pond.”

The pond is of archaeological interest having been used for watering livestock since before the Inclosure Acts. It is protected and recorded on the Historic Environment Register together with the ancient hedges alongside.

Wild flowers that are on the verge this year include some common and endangered species; Oxe Eye Daisy, Common Vetch, Meadow Vetchling, Goats Beard, Ragged Robin, Ladies Bedstraw, Hedge Bedstraw, Scabious, Yellow Rattle Fringed Water Lily, Yellow Flag Iris, Water Mint and Speedwell, together with many common plants, such as bramble, dock, cow parsley, hogweed, that are valuable to pollinators and food plants to the larvae of butterflies and other local species.

Joan added: “We are proud of our meadow by Truscott Pond and invite our neighbours in Launceston and the neighbouring parishes to share its abundance. We look forward to seeing you on National Meadows Day.”