AHEAD of National Meadows Day (July 2), National Trust Cymru is celebrating the revival and restoration of 146 hectares of meadows across Wales so plants, pollinators and wildlife can thrive.

The Welsh countryside isn’t as rich in nature as it used to be, with about 97 per cent of meadows lost since the 1930s.

In 2019, the conservation charity embarked on a three-year project in partnership with Plantlife Cymru to bring back vanishing meadow landscapes for everyone to enjoy.

Through participating in the “Magnificent Meadows Cymru” project, National Trust Cymru is aiming to make 213 hectares of meadows by the projects end in December 2022.

This figure will exceed the original target of 176 hectares at 25 sites cared for by the trust in Wales.

Lauri MacLean, National Trust Cymru nature conservation officer, said: “This project covers both the creation of new meadows at places where no habitat existed and improvement of the condition of existing grasslands, increasing their potential for supporting a broader range of biodiversity.

“A flower rich meadow can attract butterflies such as meadow brown and common blue, rare bumblebees, and supports declining farmland birds such as skylark and meadow pipit.

“By improving biodiversity at each site, we will be increasing the resilience of habitat for priority species.

“Transforming once uninteresting grasslands into flourishing spaces for plants, pollinators, and wildlife.”

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At Penrhyn Castle, near Bangor, two new meadows are now in full bloom, with a diverse range of flowers, attracting swallows that feed on the insects supported by the meadow.

The introduction of yellow rattle, a plant that slows the growth of grass allowing other species to thrive, has transformed the space in front of the castle.

Ian Dunn, chief executive of Plantlife, added: “For plants, people, pollinators and the planet, it is essential that we both arrest the alarming decline of wildflower meadows and move to make more magnificent meadows.

“This blossoming conservation project – on track to exceed targets - is at the forefront of the meadows revolution; from schools to care homes, hospitals, road verges and even rubbish dumps we have created 200 hectares of new meadows including 50 new urban meadows.

“Plantlife research shows that one square metre of wildflower meadow in high summer can be home to an average of 570 flowers on a single day.

“That means just one acre of wildflower habitat can contain more than 2.3 million flowers - so, if you get the chance do visit one and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of this brilliance of nature.

“This National Meadows Day, I will be enjoying the peace and tranquillity of a meadow, buoyed in the knowledge that there is a real passion and determination to reverse the downwards trend and safeguard these special places for future generations to enjoy.”

Rebecca Williams, assistant director of National Trust Cymru, said: “By working in partnership on the Magnificent Meadows Cymru project, we are helping to bring back the birds, bees and butterflies to our wildflower rich spaces for people to enjoy and aid nature’s recovery.

“With the meadows in our care now at their midsummer best, we want to encourage everyone to connect with nature on National Meadows Day and throughout the summer.”

Find a meadow to visit or event to attend on National Meadows Day by going to: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/magnificent-meadows-in-cymru.

Become a “meadow maker”, discovering everything you ever wanted to know about creating and caring for meadows, by visiting: meadows.plantlife.org.uk.