Wildflowers

Mowing the Wildflower Meadow

Each year we give the wildflower a bit of a trim. This keeps the grass in check and helps the wild flowers to thrive.

Wildflowers are happy in ‘poor’ soil, and taking the cuttings away helps them by reducing soil fertility. The extra nutrients from the cuttings only encourages the grasses, which will then crowd-out the flowering plants

The grass will be cut in the week before, so the wildflower seeds get a chance to escape. On the day we need to rake up and remove up the grass cuttings.

It’s a lot of work, but it’s good fun. Our volunteers are a fabulous group of people.

We’ll be working in the wildflower meadow from 10am until about 12. All ages welcome (there’s a job for everyone).

Mowing the Wildflower Meadow Read More »

Mowing the Wildflower Meadow

Each year we give the wildflower a bit of a trim. This keeps the grass in check and helps the wild flowers to thrive.

Wildflowers are happy in ‘poor’ soil, and taking the cuttings away helps them by reducing soil fertility. The extra nutrients from the cuttings only encourages the grasses, which will then crowd-out the flowering plants

The grass will be cut in the week before, so the wildflower seeds get a chance to escape. On the day we need to rake up and remove up the grass cuttings.

It’s a lot of work, but it’s good fun. Our volunteers are a fabulous group of people.

We’ll be working in the wildflower meadow from 10am until about 12. All ages welcome (there’s a job for everyone).

Mowing the Wildflower Meadow Read More »

Sunflowers 2023

HBUF is all about providing a green space in the Swindon suburbs where people can get closer to nature. We were all moved by what was happening in Ukraine. We are not a political organisation, but we are all for bringing the community together for the good of all, and our sense of community doesn’t stop at the edge of Gorse Hill or Pinehurst.

In the summer of 2022, local people came together at HBUF to plant sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine. After planting their own seeds at home, people brought their young plants to create a display in our new Miyawaki forest area.

Group of about a dozen volunteers planting sunflowers on a bright sunny day. They are in a fenced-off area with young fruit trees. In the background is a wildflower meadow and forest.
Some of the volunteers in 2022

The event was a huge success. Not only did we bring together a large group of people for our own small act of solidarity, the sunflowers provided us with a glorious show of colour through the summer months.

We have spoken to so many people about how much they loved the sunflowers and, with the war still going on, we are doing it again this year.

If you would like to take part then grab your seeds and get planting. We will be coming together in the first week of June to plant them. If you’d like some seeds then get in touch, we have lots! If you spot Andy out and about he’s probably got some in his pocket for you…

Below, you can see some of our flowers from last year. Alongside the regular sunflowers that we are all familiar with we planted some heritage varieties, so there are some striking and unusual flowers in there, from Teddy Bears to Velvet Queens!

Here at Hreod Burna Urban Forest we may not be able to do any campaigning, but we can bring the community together in a small act of solidarity. And we’re really bloody good at planting things.

Sunflowers 2023 Read More »

It’s time to mow the meadow

Each year we give the wildflower a bit of a trim. This keeps the grass in check and helps the wild flowers to thrive.

The grass has been cut. Now we need to rake up and remove up the cuttings and put them to good use elsewhere. This year we’ll be using them to mulch the new trees in our Miyawaki Forest and Celtic Circle.

It’s a lot of work, but it’s good fun. Our volunteers are a fabulous group of people.

We’ll be working in the wildflower meadow from 10am until about 12. All ages welcome (there’s a job for everyone).

It’s time to mow the meadow Read More »

Our Sunflowers are in…

HBUF is all about providing a green space in the Swindon suburbs where people can get closer to nature. We are not a political organisation. But we are all about community. We are all about coming together for the good of all.

When we come here to plant trees or mow the grass or keep the brambles under control we’re not doing it just for us, but for everyone who comes to visit, hundreds, maybe thousands of people, most of them complete strangers out to walk their dogs or take their kids on an adventure.

But our sense of community doesn’t stop at the edge of Gorse Hill or Pinehurst.

On Saturday 28th May, 2022, local people came together to plant sunflowers that they had been growing at home. The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine.

We’ve all been moved by what is happening in Ukraine. We’ve seen the outpouring of support for its people right across the UK. Here in Swindon some people have opened their homes while others like Kate, one of our volunteers, have made them welcome by collecting donations of clothes and other essentials.

small sunflower plants, freshly planted, some supported by bamboo canes
A close up of some of our new arrivals

Here at Hreod Burna Urban Forest we may not be able to do any campaigning, but we can bring the community together in a small act of solidarity. And we’re really bloody good at planting things. So when I found out that the sunflower was the national flower of Ukraine this seemed like the obvious thing for us to do.

We couldn’t do any of this without our lovely volunteers, who came together with their sunflowers to create our display. We planted between 150-200 plants. There’s a mix of heritage varieties in there, in a range of colours, shapes and sizes, from Teddy Bears to Velvet Queens, so should be quite a show!

We’ll keep you updated as the sunflowers (we hope!) grow and flower, but feel free to come and admire them in person!

Our Sunflowers are in… Read More »

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.

Sunflower Planting Read More »

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.

Sunflower Planting Read More »

Fantastic Fritillaries

At the end of 2020 we planted 1,000 fritillary bulbs in our wildflower meadow.

After their first showing last year we wondered how they would do this year.

As it turns out, they’ve done wonderfully! We have even more flowers this year, and they’ve made their way further across the meadow.

If they continue to spread at this rate then in a few years they are going to be *awesome*!

Fantastic Fritillaries Read More »

It’s time to mow the meadow!

Each year we give the wildflower a bit of a trim. This keeps the grass in check and helps the wild flowers to thrive.

It’s a lot of work, so we need your help!

Mowing the meadow 2020
Some of last year’s helpers…

If you can spare an hour or two to help us rake up and remove up the cuttings you’ll be doing great things for our little forest and the many visitors who come to enjoy it.

We’ll be working in the wildflower meadow (of course 🙂 ) from 10am on Sunday 29th August. All ages welcome.

Why not bring a picnic, or at least a little something for a well-earned break at half-time.

HBUF Map

It’s time to mow the meadow! Read More »

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