3. Belfairs Community Wildflower Meadow

Essex Wildlife Trust based at Belfairs Woodland Centre would like to establish a wildflower meadow on an area between the golf course and the Visitor Centre. Since 1930, 97% of UK's wildflower meadows have been destroyed. The wildflower meadow will be a critical part of a healthy environment, providing food for our pollinators, habitats for a wide variety of wildlife and absorbing carbon. In addition to improving the environment for the benefit of us all, the meadow will provide a learning resource for our local children. We will be establishing a volunteer group, who, with the help of our rangers, will be responsible for the meadow - mowing, weeding and collecting seed to replant. The volunteers will be from the local community and will benefit from working and learning together. If we are lucky enough to be awarded some money, in addition to buying the seeds, we will use it to buy education equipment related to wildflowers and pollination for local children, equipment for the volunteer group and an information sign telling the public all about pollinators.

Once established, everyone who comes to Belfairs will be able to enjoy the beauty of the meadow and learn how it benefits their environment. This will include the special groups who visit us at the Centre, people living with dementia, adults and children with learning disabilities.