Wild flowers to bloom at 200 city locations

Seeds have been planted on roundabouts, roadside verges, parks and at prominent landmarks.

Now in its sixth year the wild flower scheme has brought praise from residents and visitors and since it first started other councils have followed suit.

It is funded by Swansea Council, some community councils and local ward members via their environmental allowances.

Covering an area equivalent to about seven football pitches in size, locations benefitting include Guildhall rotunda and many of the major routes in and around Swansea.

The wild flowers around the rotunda have been funded by artist Marc Rees, creator of “Now The Hero” – an ambitious five day theatrical production that is being staged across Swansea in September to mark the centenary of the final year of the First World War.

Cllr Mark Thomas, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure Management, said:

“Our wild flower displays have been very positively received since first being introduced back in 2012, with local people, visitors and tourists from across the world all commenting how spectacular they are.

“It’s a terrific scheme because it raises people’s spirits, improves the look of the city and boosts biodiversity by attracting more bees and other pollinators to urban areas.

“A lot of work goes into the preparation each year and I’d like to thank those community councils and Swansea councillors who are once again financially supporting the scheme.

“Displays like these build on all the great work residents and businesses continue to do to boost the appearance of the city centre and communities throughout Swansea.”

Medieval carpet, candy, pixie, honey bee, pastel and express summer are among the wild flower seed mixtures used.

Other locations benefitting from wild flowers this summer include Mumbles Road, Fabian Way, Ravenhill Park, Carmarthen Road, Dyfatty Interchange, Brynmill Park, Parc Llewellyn and outside the Civic Centre.