The first batch of “Blue Hearts”, kindly made and painted by Nick Haynes in Woodlands Road, have been ‘planted’ in the following locations
- A246 north side east from Dobbes (3)
- A246 south side east from Dobbes (3)
- A246 south side west from Bocketts roundabout (2)
It is great to see that new wildflowers are coming through all the time, as some flower quite late. Over verges are all looking much better for it!
What Are Blue Hearts?
Restoring native wild flowers and encouraging biodiversity along some grass verges in Surrey is planned as part of Surrey County Council’s climate change initiatives. The Bookhams Residents’ Association is working with SCC to make this happen sympathetically in our area.
Whilst most of our residential verges will still be mowed, the aim is to allow wild flowers to bloom and set seed on some wide verges, encouraging a diversity of butterflies and insect pollinators.
These wild flower areas will be marked with Blue Hearts. The Blue Heart scheme followed the State of Nature Report 2014 which highlighted the dramatic decline in biodiversity across the UK. PlantLife and the Blue Heart campaign promotes the rewilding of gardens, parks and road verges, allowing areas to be left to grow through the summer.
The Blue Heart symbol will communicate to neighbours and passers by that rewilding is in progress.
The areas chosen initially will be along the A246 and the Lower Road. The scheme could be widened to other areas in Bookham, thus aiding the creation of wildlife corridors. We already have some lovely wild flowers in these verges, from primroses and buttercups to cowslips, cow parsley, orchids and many more. Insects pollinate the majority of the food we eat; this will give them a helping hand and give us beautiful swathes of colour. We have all appreciated the beauty of our roadsides and countryside during this lockdown spring!
If you want to get in touch with the Blue Hearts team email: bookhambluehearts@gmail.comKey Instigator and Project Lead: Steve Poole
Contributors: Frances Fancourt / Diane Poole
Surrey County Council Interface: Cllr Clare Curran
Photos: Les Huett / Diane Poole
