Friends of the Lake District is launching a conservation project to plant 1,500 native wildflowers at an upland hay meadow near Little Asby in Cumbria. The initiative aims to restore grassland habitats and reintroduce plant species that have been lost through certain farming practices, which is essential for supporting local insect and bird populations. Plant roots also provide practical benefits by improving soil health, enhancing moisture retention and helping to slow water runoff across the land.

The planting event will take place on 13 October and the charity is seeking volunteers to participate. Six wildflower species will be introduced: great burnet, bird's foot trefoil, black knapweed, cranesbills, oxeye daisy and vetches. This two-year initiative, run in partnership with Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Kew Millennium Seed Bank as part of the Cumbria Seed Bank Project, aims not only to introduce missing plants to grasslands but also to inform future conservation efforts to protect vulnerable plant populations across the county from permanent loss.