Planting a flower meadow in Swarzędz 13 May 2024
Planting a flower meadow in Swarzędz 13 May 2024
On 13 May 2024, at 10 a.m. in Swarzędz, the One More Tree Foundation, with the help of volunteers from GSK, students from a nearby school and local residents, united in a unique flower planting event. We would like to thank everyone involved who offered their support during the planting of the flower meadow.
Where did we plant?
The action of planting a floral meadow in Swarzędz took place in an area specially prepared by the City of Swarzędz. The floral meadow will not only enrich the aesthetics of the town, but will also contribute to the revitalisation of the local ecosystem by attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, which play a key role in the pollination of plants.
How many and which Flowers did we plant?
In total, we planted 6 types of flower bulbs, 24 species of honey plants in the mix and 6 additional flower species. What’s more, there were 36 plant species among the perennials. Together, this gave a total of 72 different species of flowers and plants that were planted during the campaign. Thanks to the huge variety of flowers, the flower meadow has become a beautiful decoration for Swarzędz.
The species planted included:
- Swordleaf ‘Cindy’ (bulb): Known for its unique colour and elegance, the ‘Cindy’ gladiolus is a popular variety that adds a touch of class to any garden.
- Swordtail ‘Black Star’ (bulb): A gold medallist in the dramatic flower category, gladiolus ‘Black Star’ impresses with its intense, almost black colour.
- Zinnia (bulb): a plant with an exceptionally pleasant fragrance and delicate flowers that add beauty to any garden.
- Blue phacelia (honey plant): not only beautiful to look at but also bee-friendly, blue phacelia impresses with its intense blue flowers and is an excellent choice for anyone wishing to support the bee population.
- Cornflower (honey plant): a variety of cornflower with delicate blue flowers that add a romantic charm to any garden, while also attracting pollinating insects.
- Purple coneflower (perennial): a plant with exceptional health properties. Its flowers have an intense purple colour and are known for their immune-boosting properties and anti-inflammatory action. In addition, it attracts pollinating insects, supporting the balance of the ecosystem.
- Common chamomile (perennial): a plant known for its soothing healing properties, especially for stomach and skin ailments. Its delicate white flowers are also attractive to bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity in the garden.
- Field poppy (perennial): also known as the eastern poppy, it is a classic field flower with intense red flowers. It is a symbol of childhood memories and is also an important food source for bees and other pollinating insects.
In addition, as part of our campaign, we also sowed grass seeds to complement the beauty of the flower meadow. By doing so, we not only added texture and depth to our space, but also enriched the meadow, creating a natural habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. The grass-enriched Flower Meadow will become an even more diverse and welcoming place for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects, contributing to the ecological balance and beautifying the area.
Diversity of the Flower Meadow
The floral meadow, made up of honey plants, perennials and grasses, provides a complex and varied environment with many environmental benefits. The melliferous plants, such as marigolds and cornflowers, provide nectar and pollen, providing a valuable food source for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects. By providing them with adequate food sources, melliferous plants support and promote populations of these creatures, which play a key role in plant pollination. In addition, perennials, or perennial flowering plants, have deep root systems that help maintain soil structure and prevent erosion. The variety of perennial species increases biodiversity by attracting different insect and bird species, creating a balanced ecosystem. Grass is an essential component of a flower meadow, providing the basic structure and texture of the entire space. Its presence also supports biodiversity, providing shelter for small animals and providing food for different bird species. The combination of meadow plants, perennials and grasses creates a harmonious environment that is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but also supports biodiversity, promoting the health of the ecosystem and contributing to the balance of nature.
Advantages of Flowerbeds
Floral meadows in cities have a number of general advantages that contribute to improving the quality of urban life and protecting the environment. Here are some of them:
- Improving Biodiversity – floral meadows provide a natural habitat for a variety of plant, insect and bird species, which increases biodiversity in urban environments.
- Supporting Pollinator Ecosystems – floral plants attract bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects that play a key role in the pollination of plants, which in turn supports the production of fruit and seeds in the surrounding environment.
- Improving the Aesthetics of Urban Spaces – flower meadows add colour and beauty to urban parks, squares and other green spaces, improving the aesthetics of the surroundings and providing places of recreation and relaxation for residents.
- Air Purification – floral plants absorb carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants, helping to improve air quality in the city.
- Reducing Extreme Temperatures – Flowery meadows can help mitigate the effects of high temperatures by absorbing heat and providing natural thermal insulation, helping to improve thermal comfort in the city.
- Combating Soil Erosion – Dense vegetation cover in the form of flower meadows can reduce soil erosion by maintaining soil structure and stability, especially in areas prone to erosion.
- Promoting Environmental Awareness – Flower meadows are often used for environmental education and to promote public awareness of environmental protection and the importance of biodiversity conservation efforts.
Overall, flower meadows in cities provide numerous benefits for people, nature and the environment, supporting the creation of more sustainable and livable urban areas.
Thank you for your support!
We would like to thank all the participants for their support: the volunteers, the students of Swarzędz Primary School No. 2 and the officials in our eco-friendly flower meadow planting campaign, and the City of Swarzędz for their seamless cooperation and assistance. This initiative aimed not only to beautify the area, but also to support a healthy urban ecosystem and promote environmental awareness among the local community.
