GREEN-FINGERED growers are needed to take part in a new project to create flourishing flower-filled meadows.

"Plugging The Gaps" is a two-year programme led by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership and funded with a grant of £69,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, (HLF).

The project, which will be rolled out across County Durham, Northumberland and Cumbria, aims to boost the number of rare wildflower meadows which have been in serious decline since the 1950s.

Botanist Dr Ruth Starr-Keddle, project officer with the AONB Partnership, said: "We need volunteers to help us collect seeds of wildflowers this summer, starting in mid-June and sow them into trays.

"Training in seed collection, propagation and meadow restoration will be rolled out to volunteers. And we need people to then help us to look after the growing plants over winter. The wildflower plugs will be planted back into the meadows after a year of growth."

Ensuring iconic meadow species such as great burnet, globeflower and wood crane’s-bill remain in the North Pennines, the new plants will be planted into areas to link up existing flower-rich sites and create an unbroken network of nectar for insects and bees.

Dr Starr-Keddle said: "We’d also like to hear from anyone who has areas of land they think would be suitable to add plants into as part of Plugging The Gaps, especially farmers and smallholders."

The UK has lost about 97 per cent of wild flower meadows butt, thanks to less intensive farming practices, the North Pennines remains a stronghold with a share of 40 per cent of all remaining upland hay meadows.

Anyone wishing to volunteer for the project, or who has suitable land, can contact Dr Starr-Keddle on 01388 528801, email ruth@northpenninesaonb.org.uk.