Down Grange set to bloom

A large earth bank at Down Grange Sports Complex will be blooming thanks to work carried out by volunteers.

A team of 15 volunteers have joined officers from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in getting their hands dirty to seed the bank, created to prevent unauthorised vehicle access on the playing fields.

The team has now seeded the bank with a mixture of native and non-native perennial wild flowers to brighten up the area and to provide a nectar garden for butterflies and bees, which are in rapid decline.

Once established the area will flower from May through to late September and provide a valuable source of nectar throughout the spring and summer months for bumblebees.

Cabinet Member for Sports and Leisure Cllr Keith Chapman said: “While this earth bank is here for preventative measures we wanted to ensure it didn’t become an eyesore. By planting these seeds it will enhance the area and provide a wonderful floral display to be enjoyed by all, as well as provide a valuable habitat to our bumblebees. This floral bank will be an attractive addition to the community and part of the Basingstoke in Bloom campaign which aims to encourage people to enhance the appearance of their local environment and take pride in their place.

Once again we are extremely grateful for the hard work carried out by our very dedicated group of volunteers, without whom much of our conservation work would not be possible.”