Wildflower verge conservation day
April 22, 2025
Turnstyle Designs The Interior Designers Architects Furniture Makers Designers Choice
Supporting local district council
On a beautiful spring day, our Turnstyle team joined the Torridge District Council, helping with the maintenance and management of the verges surrounding the cattle market car park.
ABOUT THE DAY
Torridge District council team members Mike and Rose helped run the conservation day and led the group of volunteers which included our Turnstyle team members. Conor from our US Sales team and Craig our CNC Machinist.
The task for the day involved raking and scarifying the grass on the large, steep verge that surrounds the local car park. This helps remove dead grass and debris, creating a healthier environment for the wildflower saplings to grow. It also helps to rejuvenate the soil in preparation for more to be planted.
Early March is the last chance to do this before Spring and Summer hits, as doing this task during these months, causes risk of disturbing the wildflowers growth.
“We ran a very successful volunteer event to help create a wildflower verge at the Cattle Market car park in Bideford. The team from Turnstyle Designs put in a fantastic effort alongside the other volunteers helping to rake up cuttings and planting wildflower seeds to establish new plants in the spring and summer. This work will help to provide better habitat for bees, butterflies and other important wildlife. Thank you everyone involved.”
After the verge management, the team visited the community green houses where they helped to sew Knapweed and Oxeye Daisy seeds. Here the project grows saplings ready for planting.
Craig and Conor helped to turn over soil in two large planters that the team use for growing vegetables. Once grown these vegetables are then gifted to the local food banks. The greenhouses are also used for local projects within schools and communities helping to educate people about the importance of wildflower maintenance and the local environment.
The team also used the opportunity whilst clearing the verge to help clean rubbish and discarded waste at the same time. They found a lot of plastic wrappers, bottles and general waste during the process which was sad to see but with the incredible work of these volunteer groups, the environment was soon restored.
"Spending the day with Torridge District Council was both rewarding and insightful. The sun came out for us making it a pleasant day of hard manual work. Seeing the end results and knowing what it will bring in the spring made it all feel worth the effort. Torridge District Council are truly doing some amazing things for the community. We also helped with sowing seeds and creating vegetable patches to grow produce for the local food bank."
THE WILDFLOWERS that WILL grow
Once the saplings have properly established routes and are the right size, they are transported from the greenhouse to the verge ready for planting.
With many standard gardens unable to provide enough pollen to sustain bees and butterflies, preserving the wildflower population is very important for natural habitats and eco system of our insects.
Scientifically known as Rhinanthus minor, this unique wildflower feeds on grass helping to reduce the grass that grows around them, allowing flowers have more chance to grow.
Mainly added for visual effect as their large flowers heads look so nice once in bloom. They do, however, provide a safe resting area for bees and smaller insects on windy days.
A perfect flower for insects, bees and butterflies due to its high pollen content. The seeds produced by the Knapweed also provide food for birds.
For more information about our volunteer days, visit our blog page.
