Wildflower meadow brightens Torrance

Created by East Dunbartonshire Council’s Streetscene Technical Support Team, this annual wildflower meadow is an uplifting sight for both local residents and commuters.

It also provides a vital wildlife habitat for bees, butterflies and other nectar loving insects.

Councillor John Dempsey, depute convenor of the neighbourhood services committee, is delighted with the results.

He said: “I hope to see many other meadows like this created in East Dunbartonshire, not just for the residents but also to enhance our existing biodiversity.

“These plants will brighten up Torrance and the meadow is really attractive in summer.

“As well as attracting vital species of insects and butterflies to the area, the wildflowers will also help trap emissions from traffic.

“Meadows are very effective at trapping harmful pollutants and this is one of the reasons the meadow has been created.”

Wildflower meadows offer a diverse, and typically exceptionally attractive habitat for the pleasure of young and old alike. The twentieth century saw a sharp decrease in the variety of wildflowers in the UK countryside.

This was due to changes in agricultural policy and practice, particularly increased field drainage and herbicide use, and the growth of urban sprawl.

Over the past two decades, renewed interest in wildflower habitats has grown with concerns for biodiversity protection and augmentation.