Published on 11th September 2019

Wildflowers in a Cotswold field

Next summer, Cheltenham Crematorium will benefit from a butterfly and wildflower area for families and visitors to spend time in and reflect.

Local landscape architect, Ares have been at the crematorium grounds preparing an area with the sub-soil left from the construction phases, for wild flora and grassland. Ares has also worked closely with Glorious Cotswold Grasslands to source a seed mix which is nectar rich to encourage pollinators and butterflies and to also complement the local Cotswold landscape.

Cllr Chris Coleman member for clean and green, says: “We’re really pleased that the seeds have been sown and hope that our families and visitors will find comfort in the tranquillity that these wildflowers will bring to this dedicated, reflective area. Our thanks go to both Ares and Glorious Cotswold Grassland for their help in finding a suitable local heritage mix.”

James Gardner of Ares Landscape Architects Ltd commented: ‘’We were delighted to receive help and advice from Harvey Sherwood (Glorious Cotswold Grasslands) to locally source  the wildflower seed including Whittington Lodge, Hyde Mill at Stow and Sevenhampton Manor farm - which included a mix of native flowers including ox-eye daisy, bird’s foot trefoil, vetches, goatsbeard and orchids, to name a few.’’

Two areas left bare by the recent construction of the new crematorium have also been seeded, one next to the new car park and the other to the south of the new buildings.
 

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Notes: Using wildflower planting has the additional benefit in that less of the project’s construction waste - brick and stone – was needed to be removed from the site and therefore saved from landfill. This links with the council’s work to address the climate emergency and work towards becoming a carbon neutral council and borough by 2030.