Six weeks left of wild flowers joy

ABOUT six weeks – that’s how long we’ve got left to enjoy the stunning wildflower displays across Swansea.

Parks experts at Swansea Council, who first started planting seeds for the displays back in April, say there should, weather depending, still be some colour as we head into October.

Hundreds of thousands of wild flowers are now in bloom on scores of roadside verges, parks and roundabouts right across the city – and it’s not just Swansea people going wild about the displays.

Susanna Davies, of Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, said: “We recently passed through Swansea on our way to Gower. We were delighted by the displays of wildflowers along the roadsides.”

Sue Leigh-Browne, of Bideford in Devon, said: “We drove through Swansea and were absolutely delighted by the wonderful display of mixed annual flowers everywhere. It’s such a refreshing change from the usual municipal bedding plants you see everywhere. Well done, Swansea.”

Paul Hooper, of Birmingham, said: “We drove through Swansea on a weekend and were impressed by the displays of wild flowers on verges and on central reservations.”

Lesley Miller, of Cheddar in Somerset, said: “I’d like to congratulate Swansea Council on the swathe of wild flowers along Fabian Way and Mumbles Road in particular. They are spectacular and really brighten the area. ”

Cllr Mark Child, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Healthy City and Wellbeing, said: “People can’t get enough of our wild flowers scheme. The praise we get every day from local residents and visitors is hugely satisfying, so our parks department deserve enormous credit for their work.

“With the weather so hit and miss lately, it’s heartening to hear that the displays could yet be set to brighten up our days for six more weeks or so. The fantastic displays boost people’s spirits, attract pollinators and improve the look of roadsides, roundabouts and parks in communities across the city. Many other councils are now keen on following in our footsteps by introducing similar schemes elsewhere in the UK.”

Locations still benefitting in Swansea include part of Fabian Way’s central reservation, Penclawdd, Normandy Road by the Liberty Stadium, and the main road between Gorseinon and Pontarddulais.  Summery picking, pastel mix and flowers, and honey and butterfly are among the seed mixtures being used.