VOLUNTEERS are being urged to take part in a mass planting of wild flowers in Bridport.

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) will recreate the colour and diversity of the county's coronation meadow at Kingcombe near Toller Porcorum, by transferring the plants to Asker Meadows.

The mass planting will take place between 10am and 3pm on Thursday March 26 and Saturday April 4.

Nick Gray, DWT conservation officer, leading the Dorset Coronation Meadows project, said: "Kingcombe Meadows is a glorious place brimming with a huge diversity of wild flowers and the insects that feast on their pollen and nectar.

"Walking through Lady's Mead in the summer, you can hear grasshoppers jumping between the tell-tale seed pots of yellow rattle and see the many butterflies attracted by the irresistible flowers of knapweed and oxeye daisy.

"Bridport Town Council's Asker Meadows Nature Reserve, with its excellent access, sympathetic management and grazing livestock is the ideal receptor site to create a buzzing and thriving meadow."

The Coronation Meadows project, supported by the Biffa Award Landfill Community Fund, began in 2012 with a call from The Prince of Wales for the creation of new wild flower meadows, at least one in every county - to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

This came in response to the news that Britain has lost 97 percent of its wild flower meadows over the last 75 years. A total of 60 coronation meadows were selected, including west Dorset’s Lady’s Mead at DWT’s Kingcombe Meadows nature reserve. This project will celebrate these surviving meadows and use their valuable seed to create new species-rich sites.

Last summer, volunteers harvested seed from the coronation meadow, before its scheduled mid-July hay cut. The seeds were dried and stored ready for sowing into seed trays in August and September - and are now ready to be planted in Asker Meadows.

Everyone is welcome to join in the mass planting. No experience is necessary but anyone taking part should bring a trowel if possible.

For further information please contact Nick Gray on 07824 438974 or visit coronationmeadows.org.uk