Sunflower Planting

At HBUF we’re not just about trees. Each year the flowers dotted around the forest and in our wildflower meadow bring a bit more colour and beauty into our strolls through the fields and trees.

Last year we came together to plant more than a hundred sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine. As well as being gorgeous, the birds and bees will love them, and they made a wonderful sight throughout the summer months.

After a fantastically successful first year, which has attracted such a lot of positive feedback, and with the war still going on in Ukraine, we have decided to do it again this year, and we’d like you to be a part of it.

We want you to help by growing your own seedlings and bringing them to become part of our sunflower garden when are ready to plant-out. We have some simple advice on how to grow them here.

Join us at the Miyawaki Forest from 1pm. If you don’t have your own sunflowers, don’t despair, you can still join in – we have plenty of extra plants we need help with!

No special equipment required, we’ll have forks and spades handy, though a trowel or hand fork might be useful.

Planting is simple enough, a small hole to transfer your plant into, along with the soil it’s currently in, then a bit of a water to help it along. If you’re feeling strong, you can help us ferry water from the brook.

If you’re driving, be aware that the Southbrook Playing Fields car park isn’t under our control and may not be open, but we’re a short walk from any of the local Pinehurst and Gorse Hill streets.