Species found in commercial seed packets are often of unknown origin and can contain non-native species including garden cultivars which do not naturally occur in the UK, let alone the Vale of Glamorgan.
Our aim is to keep the wild in wildflower as non-native species can displace native wildflowers that are already present in the seedbank, eroding distinctiveness and natural genetic variation of our local flora.
If after two-three years of management through cut-and-collect, areas are showing no signs of increasing wildflower diversity, we will consider enhancing the verge using locally sourced wildflower seed, green hay or plug plants grown on from locally sourced seed.