Wild at heart

YOUR WILDFLOWER MEADOW EVOLVES OVER THE YEARS TO HELP YOU RECONNECT WITH NATURE

- DIARMUID GAVIN

THE trend for wildflower meadows has been blooming for nearly a decade now, and it's more than just a passing fashion.

As the importance of pollinators has finally sunk in, gardeners across the country have embraced the joy and purpose of sowing wildflower seeds.

Those bold, flowering meadows - brimming with colour in the first year - have become a familiar sight in gardens, schools, verges and community spaces.

But while many enjoy spectacular results from the start, especially with pictorial annual meadows, it's worth pausing particularly now, in the middle of seed-sowing season to reflect on what happens next.

Creating a long-term, species-rich wildflower meadow takes time. The real magic comes not just in that first flush of blooms, but in watching a living system evolve over the years. Here's what to expect from your meadow as it matures.

YEAR 1: A riot of colour.