Nomination for Derek Beauchamp Design Award 2024

(by email)

 

Name: Poundbury Nature Project

 

Contact details: Miles King, People Need Nature (miles.king@peopleneednature.org.uk)

 

Address of Project: Various locations around Poundbury:

The Great Field meadows; The Swale; Middle Farm Way Slopes and Verges; Fire Station Green; Monkey Jump corner.

 

Summary Description of the work done:

 

Starting in the Summer of 2019 People Need Nature, working in partnership with the Duchy of Cornwall, has transformed areas of “green infrastructure” within Poundbury, into places rich in nature. These are more valuable for wildlife, and help bring nature to people’s doorsteps, and into their everyday lives.

 

Great Field new meadow

 

On the Great Field a large area had been sown with Perennial Rye-Grass and White Clover (an agricultural sward). A new wildflower meadow was created (by sowing local provenance wildflower seed), and existing meadows enhanced, through addition of local provenance wildflower seed, and careful management.

Great Field new meadow June 2020

Great Field new meadow June 2023

 

The Swale

 

In The Swale (by Duke’s Parade) initial plans to cover Wessex Water infrastructure with amenity grassland were changed, and a new wildflower-rich grassland has been created through the sowing of local provenance wildflower seed, followed by careful management.

The Swale January 2020

The Swale June 2023

 

 

Middle Farm Way

 

On both sides of Middle Farm Way, from the pelican crossing by Poundbury vets, to Monkey Jump corner, verges on the development side, and the slope on the bypass side, have been converted into wildflower-rich habitat, by changing the mowing regime.

 

Middle Farm Way verge

 

On the development side, amenity mowing of verges has been replaced by a much more wildlife-friendly approach, using Dorset Council’s “cut and collect” machines. By only cutting twice a year, and removing the arisings, these verges are now much more flowery than they were, and these flowers last through the Spring and Summer, providing important nectar and pollen sources for insects such as Bumble Bees and Butterflies.

Middle Farm Way verges under an amenity mowing regime May 2021

 

Middle Farm Way verges June 2023

 

 

Middle Farm Way slope

 

On the bypass side, the large slope had been originally sown with wildflowers, but then management had ceased and the slope had become overgrown, with invasive Bramble and Dogwood becoming dominant in places. Management started in 2020 when the slope was mown and the hay removed. Yellow-Rattle seed was sown in 2021 and this has had a marked effect reducing the vigour of coarse grasses, along fine grasses and flowers to proliferate. In Summer 2024 a group of Bee Orchids has appeared, attesting the effectiveness of the management. People Need Nature Volunteers and contractors have tackled the invasive Bramble and Dogwood to great effect. New areas of neglected grassland have been brought into management in Autumn 2023 and these areas are providing more high value wildlife habitat.

Rank grassland Middle Farm Way slope October 2020

 

Middle Farm Way slope May 2024

Fire Station Green

 

Fire Station Green had previously been managed under an amenity mowing regime. The Duchy agreed to allow the sward to develop into a meadow in 2021, and a colony of Bee Orchids appeared.  In 2022 People Need Nature organised a transfer of wildflower seeds from Maiden Castle’s chalk downland, to Fire Station Green. Since then, management has been fine-tuned to allow wildflowers to thrive.

Fire Station Green May 2021

 

Bee Orchid Fire Station Green May 2024

Wildflower meadow, Fire Station Green May 2024

 

 

Monkey Jump corner

 

People Need Nature advised National Highways during their creation of the flood alleviation scheme; in 2022 top soil was buried under chalk and the chalk was seeded with wildflower seed. Wildflowers are now flourishing on this corner.

Monkey Jump corner May 2021

 

Monkey Jump Corner May 2024