St Mary's Community Wildlife Garden

St Mary’s Community Wildlife Garden is a peaceful wildlife haven which includes the following features:

A rich wildlife habitat with a bog garden and homes for frogs, toads and newts on its banks

Wildlife Pond

A peaceful spot to pause on the bench and enjoy some winter sunshine

Winter Garden

Wildflowers native to cornfields to attract pollinating insects

Annual Wildflower Nectar Patch

A wide variety of useful plants prized for their culinary, medicinal and cosmetic properties

Nature's Helpers Herb Bed

Created to support pollinating insects, as well as other wildlife

Mini-Haymeadow

A range of woodland plants provide a suitable habitat for wildlife

Woodland

Home to a variety of Buddleia, scabious and other butterfly-friendly plants.

Butterfly Zone

Chipping in Bloom's growers paradise

Allotment

The Wildlife Garden is used by individuals and families, schools and community groups, as well as visitors to the village. It was originally developed as a wildflower and wildlife conservation project by Chipping in Bloom in 2012 on land kindly loaned by St Mary’s R.C. Church. The derelict and overgrown site was cleared and prepared with the help of the village community.

Working with specialists from the Forest of Bowland AONB, we have gained knowledge and skills to collect seed, grow plug plants and scythe our mini hay meadow. Our aim is to increase the number and variety of wildflowers and plants to create a source of pollen and nectar throughout the year. This attracts a diverse range of pollinators and insects, so increasing the range of birds and wildlife that visit the area, and helping in the conservation of endangered species.