NEW RETURN CLIENT – CUMBRIA SEED BANK

“We’re pleased to announce a new two-year project to boost the declining number of grassland wildflowers and plants in Cumbria. Thanks to £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we’ll re-introduce or bolster 14 rare plant species at selected locations in South Lakeland and are looking for volunteers to get involved.

Thanks to National Lottery players, over the coming two years up to 40,000 plants will be grown from seed at our plant nursery near Carlisle. The rare seeds are already being collected (with permission) and carefully stored at the Seed Store at Gosling Sike. Over coming months, we’ll work with volunteers to plant the seeds in our wildflower nursery. Later on, volunteers will plant the plug plants in suitable locations that have been selected in south Cumbria.

A group of 24 farmers and other landowners have already signed up to grow the endangered species on their land. We’ll support them into the future, so that the landowners can provide the best conditions for these plants to prosper and establish strongholds.”