Limerick City and County Council
Limerick City and County Council
This wildflower meadow was first sown circa 2005-07 as part of Limerick City and County Council first real steps to try out and grow wildflowers.
Not an easy site, as it was made from dumped construction rubble and subsoil, mixed with top soil, and very stony. What soil was present was mostly derived form construction sites, (clearance and demolition). The park has public pathways, which bring passers by into contact with the flora and wildlife. As there is a steam and some trees, acting as a wildlife corridor, it was an ideal urban protect to start off with.
Due to the nature of the weeds growing 0n the imported construction spoil, we explained that herbicides would have to be used or the meadow needed to be cut down short all summer long to weaken the weeds and then it could be autumn sown after surface harrowing in September. Limericks policy of limited use of herbicides won over, so they chanced sowing without first clearing the site, of weeds. Instead choosing to surface till, another reason being the amount of stones present and if any cultivation other than on the very top of the soil surface, who knows what rocks and metals would re-surface. So all agreed, no herbicides no cultivation. YUK! in those days we had no turnover worth speaking about and every sale mattered, so we didn’t raise an objection (These days, now that everyone knows our wildflower seed actually grows unlike the ‘rubbish’ often posing as wildflower seed, we Always raise objections to bad practices.
The first sowing attempt grew but the meadow failed, we realised later that the soil had far worse weeds and no plans were made to have the meadow cut. Anyway with Design By Nature’s ‘SeedHeads’ team making a 2nd visit, advising for free on what was required, the results speak for themselves.
1st Result: FAIL. The meadow germinated, even Yellow Rattle and Red Bartsia spread fast, but within a few years it mostly failed to re-invasive weed budleja, Japanese knotweed as well as the usual willows, Horsetales, dock, thistle, coltsfoot, bindweed and scutch grass. The Council was also, at the time, not in a position to manage or cut the weeds out of the meadow nor give the all important one cut per year, all for reasons out of their control, which we accepted under our guarantee. So we replaced the seeds.
2nd Result: Success
The photos show the second sowing, the first attempt at sowing a meadow had to be sprayed off with herbicide, especially as invasive as the weeds grow back and then the entire meadow had to be again resprayed – sprayed off, before a second attempt to sow
Proof positive, that the ‘Alternative’ to using weed killer or herbicides to get sites weed free for wildflowers is patience and time and the use of proper ‘stale-seedbed’ techniques, it helps to follow our advice.
If you rush to sow wildflower seeds, Rushes and the friends the weeds will grow.
As a result of this meadows success, the little seeds that grew great Plants For Limerick City and County Council helped to inspire them to develop a network of native Irish wildflower meadows around the city to celebrate Limerick’s year as a European Green Leaf City.
15/05/25 Ref Limerick COCO website
In addition wild flower meadows were developed at Corbally Meadows, Childers Road and College Park. A subsequent study of the species diversity in these areas by botanist Dr. Tom Harrington concluded that all were found to have a range of plants of value to pollinators, in particular at Corbally Meadows.
This year the Council is taking things a step further and in a number of pilot road verges, grass will be left uncut until Autumn to allow the areas to develop into meadows.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Sheahan said: “I’m delighted that the Council is expanding this programme. We all need to take care of the environment and it’s been proven that pollinators are an essential element of our ecosystem, and they need to be protected.”
