Team Wilder Autumn planting

We are urging individuals, communities, councils and land owners to plant for pollinators this autumn. It is the best time of year to get planting.

By planting a variety of native or nectar rich plants this autumn, wherever this is possible for you, and by avoiding pesticides, you are creating an early-season feeding station for pollinators emerging from hibernation. Give solitary bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths and beetles a head start to spring. Recovery is possible if we all do our bit.

Share your actions for nature on the Team Wilder map

Autumn is the perfect time of year to plant because:

• Many autumn planted bulbs, seeds and plugs are stronger in spring
• More climate resilient
• The ground is still warm from the summer
• Less watering is required
• There is more time for established root growth. 

Planting wildflowers and mini meadows of any size works with nature to produce the best results. It increase the quality of your soil, the health of your plants and reduce pests. Emerging pollinators in spring will wake up to important habitat space providing them with shelter, nectar and pollen. By helping the bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, wasps and flies, more food is provided for bats, birds, hedgehogs and more wildlife.

Your actions all add up and play a hugely important role in the climate and ecological emergency. The total area of gardens in the UK is greater than the total area of reserves. Changing the way we look after our gardens collectively makes a difference. 

• Plant these 5 wildflowers in a pot, container or the ground. Visit the Grow Wilder wildflower nursery and see these species in action on site.

1. Common Knapweed
2. Oxeye Daisy
3. Yarrow
4. Wild Carrot
5. Field Scabious

Create a mini meadow, which can be any size. Either in a container or by converting a patch of lawn in a gardens or community spaces. Mini meadows are beautiful and full of life, with less maintenance than a traditional lawn.

Meg in Fishponds has transformed part of her back garden to include a mini meadow. With some help from Acer, Grow Wilder volunteer and Good Grounds and Gardens, the pollinators are going to be happy. The urban garden has been planted with spring flowering native wildflowers, summer flowering species and areas for recreation and access with mown paths. This has created habitat and food sources for wildlife, natural beauty, climate resilience and practical everyday use.

Did you see the mini meadows outside St Mary Redcliffe church this summer? They’re in their third year now and have been growing from strength to strength With beautiful blooms and buzzing biodiversity next to the mown lawn on one side and the busy main road on the other. 

Sometimes No Mow May or a wild patch doesn't show the results you'd like to see. If you've left an area to grow wild and you'd like to increase the wildflowers growing, planting seeds and plug plants in autumn is a great place to start. Mini meadows change over time, as grasses and plants take over the space.

You can add a variety of wildflowers to help increase biodiversity and diversifying your lawn, garden or community space.

A wildflower lawn is kept short if desired and adds floral elements to the area. You can mow this area every 5-6weeks. Recommended wildflowers here include yarrow, selfheal, bird's-foot trefoil, wild marjoram, as well as red and white clover.

For taller wildflowers around the edges of the lawn, try planting common knapweed, field scabious, tansy and the amazing corky-fruited Water-dropwort.

Or go for a mini meadow! They’re beautiful, interesting and full of life when compared to a plain grass lawn. Habitat and food is created for bugs, bees, butterflies, hoverflies, beetles, moths and more, who in turn feed more wildlife such as birds, bats and hedgehogs. Pollinators pollinate the wildflowers, which self-seed to help spread.

All actions all add up and play a hugely important role in the climate and ecological emergency. The total area of gardens in the UK is greater than the total area of reserves. Changing the way we look after our gardens collectively makes a difference. It's bigger than us and our gardens are linked to other local open spaces, parks and grass verges. The UK has lost over 97% of flower rich meadows and grassland in the past century.