The Mega Flora project was a trial project that brought together many different departments, to look at how to naturalise and enhance grassland management within North Lanarkshire.
The Mega Flora project is an interdepartmental trial project looking at how to naturalise and enhance grassland management within North Lanarkshire Council. This trial project explored new approaches to deliver multiple benefits in order to create diverse and healthy greenspaces for local people to enjoy as well as benefit wildlife, reduce biodiversity loss and help combat the climate emergency.
This trial project specifically focused on the grasslands within Strathclyde Country Park and Palacerigg Country Park. A few other areas within residential developments were identified and included within the project.
This change in management meant less grass cutting throughout the year in specific areas. The grass was longer throughout the summer with a strip of grass next to all paths continued to be mown so they were still easy to use. Fewer cuts meant less machinery running helping to reduce carbon emissions as well as creating safer, more peaceful places for people and wildlife.
In order to give wildflower seeds the best starting point, the areas were prepared back in the autumn of 2023. They appeared bare for a while until the plants started to flower in spring the following year. The sites will look more wild and have changing flowers on show through the coming seasons.
It can take several years to transform short cut grass into a wildflower meadow, so keep watching the areas as they change over time and check out our website where we will post photos.