Over three miles of extra wildflowers planted across Rother Valley area

The sight of wildflowers around Rother Valley roadsides has been commonplace for the past eight years but even more areas are benefitting from the scheme this year.

Almost three and a half miles of wildflower verges have been planted in 12 trial areas across the Rotherham borough including Maltby, Harthill and Todwick.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Dominic Beck, said: “The wildflowers really add a splash of colour across the borough and also benefit the butterflies, honeybees, birds and other small mammals.

“We’ve had great feedback since we first started planting the flowers and replacing some grass verges eight years ago and we hope to continue to expand the planting again in the future.”

Eight miles of wildflowers were first planted across the borough in 2013 and the mix of seeds has been specially designed from over 180 species.

After flowering, the reservations will be mown in late autumn when the seed heads have dried and will then propagate the areas for next season.