OCU group help Really Wild Lockleaze sow 650+m2 of wildflower meadow at Lockleaze Sports Centre
Really Wild Lockleaze has been putting in wildflower meadow and other habitat for wildlife with residents across the Bristol neighbourhood of Lockleaze. In September, 48 local people came together in 4 different events, and created 240m2 of wildflower meadow all along the Concorde Way cycle path at Lockleaze Sports Centre.
Unfortunately, the OCU group, contracted by the National Grid to run a cable from the substation to Rolls Royce had to dig up nearly half of the meadow. Local residents contacted Really Wild Lockleaze in dismay, and we started to look what could be done to rectify the situation.
With some helpful intermediary work by Lockleaze Sports Centre, the OCU group has paid to replace the meadow, and some of the workers are going even further - coming in on their days off to create even more meadow, and sow area up to an amazing 650+m2 of wildflower meadow.
Stuart Waugh, Project Manager at the OCU Group said "OCU Group, and our staff are committed to supporting local charities and trusts, and will always look to participate in areas we are working."
Billy Halfyard, Site Manager from the OCU Group who came in on his day off to sow seeds said "I wanted to support this project because of the difference these local residents are making for wildlife with all the meadow areas they are creating in Lockleaze"
Eleanor Fairbraida from Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, and the Really Wild Lockleaze Project said “It is really great to find that the OCU Group were so willing to replace what they have had to damage, and to go even further and create so much more meadow. It is inspiring when you find people so motivated to help nature. Our volunteers would have been really upset if the meadow wasn’t there, after all their hard work, but now they, and the bees and butterflies, will have even more to enjoy!”
With 97% of British meadow having been lost since WWII, replacing and sustaining this vital habitat is really important. Compared to plain grass, wildflower meadow also locks away more carbon in the soil, helping to tackle climate change. Studies have shown that sown urban meadow patches can support just as many species as natural meadow, showing that grassroots projects like Really Wild Lockleaze can make a real difference for nature in our community.
You can read an article about this from Ursula Billington at Bristol 24/7 here.
Really Wild Lockleaze is a Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust Project, and is part of Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership’s Community Climate Action Project, funded by the National Lottery. We are supporting residents across Lockleaze to make more space for nature in the gardens and in their public spaces. We have an Avon Wildlife Trust Ecologist working with us on the project.
OCU Group is one of the UK’s leading Utility Service Providers, and is contracted by National Grid to do the work throughout Lockleaze and Filton putting a new electricity cable to Rolls Royce in Filton.
