Wildflowers

We have committed to sowing multiple wildflower areas across the borough to both provide colour and to support insects and pollinators. The wildflower seeds that we use contains flowers species that are not native to the UK. Using non-native species extends the season that the flowers are in bloom and provides additional habitat and food for insects and pollinators. 

The visual impact of the flower mixtures is one of the benefits you can experience, of equal importance is the commitment to the environmental responsibility:

  • helps reduce our carbon footprint
  • introduces more ecological practices
  • adds value to the landscape and natural spaces
  • brings wildlife back into the town.

Wildflowers need to be left until they have died before they are cut. This will usually be done at the end of September or early October, giving the wildflowers the best opportunity to come back the following year

As well as brightening up the borough, our urban wildflower meadows are vital for our ecosystem. They provide pollinators, such as bees and butterflies and other insects, with food shelter and places to breed.

In 2023, following positive feedback from residents, South Ribble Borough Council will add 3 new sites to its urban wildflower planting programme. Seeds will be sown shortly after Easter in the following 46 areas.

Bamber Bridge, Walton-Le-Dale, and Higher Walton

  • Brownedge Road                      

    Withy Grove Park-  Brindle Rd  entrance

    Withy Grove Park -Sergent Street  entrance - NEW                        

    Gregson Lane Playing Field                                                                                                                                                                                        

    King George V Higher Walton                                  

    Holland House estate                                                                                                

    Carrwood Road/Millwood Road opposite The Hunters Pub                                     

    Along verge on Carrwood Way                                                                                       

    Roundabout at junction of Carrwood Road, Carrwood Way & Valley View            

    Bellis Way at rear of playground                                                                                    

    Hennel Lane banking                                                                                                         

    Outside the Hob Inn at Bamber Bridge                                                                         

    Corner of Cinnamon Hill Drive North and Chatsworth Way                                      

    Claytongate Drive Walton-le-Dale

Leyland and Farington

  • Moss Side Village Green  
  • Middlefield Park 
  • St Johns Green  
  • Broadfield Drive Opposite St Mary's Church                                                              
  •  Tractor roundabout                                                                                                                                   
  • Dalehead Road Green                                                                                                                 
  • Farington Park                                                    
  • Leyland Way                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
  • In front of Mini Golf at Worden
  •  In front of Bobby the horse                                                                                                                                                                                 
  • Field at end of Cowling Way            
  • Western Drive                                                                                                                    
  • Bent Lane     
  • Bent Lane/Turpin Green Lane Junction - right hand side                                                                                                       
  • Field next to Barnhey/Leyland Lane                                                                              
  • Leadale Green                                                                                                                   
  • Buckshaw Village - near SR sign on Central Ave                                                         
  • Buckshaw Village - roundabout on Central Ave                                                                                                   
  • Tank Roundabout                                                                                                                                     

Penwortham

  • Kingsfold Drive/ Hawksbury Drive end                                   
  • Hawksbury Drive opposite shops                                                                                                                      
  • Pope Lane Park                                                                                                                                                   
  • Triangle on Cop Lane next to the cycle path through to HGP                                                                       
  • Queensway                                                                                                                                                                                                        
  • Marshalls Brow     
  • Bank Top Road playground                                                                                                                                                     

Western Parishes

  • Much Hoole Playing Field, Northern Avenue
  • Shirley Lane, Longton
  • Hutton Playing Field wildlife area (perennial)
  • Lindle Lane/Lindle Close, Hutton                                                                                  
  • Front of hedge from Hutton to Longton
  • The Grove Longton
  • Gill Lane Walmer Bridge/junction of bypass
  • Dob Lane Walmer Bridge/junction of bypass

Lostock Hall

  • Todd Lane South, before the railway bridge
  • Patch of land at junction of Wateringpool Lane and Mercer Road 
  • The roundabout at The Cawsey and Leyland Road

Wildflower locations are reviewed annually with some locations being changed or removed. When preparing the ground for the coming season, the dormant seeds in the ground are disturbed which then germinate faster than the seeds sown. To alleviate this a particular area will be left to fallow for the coming season. That site will be revisited the following year to assess its suitability for an urban flower meadow.