A CAMPAIGN aiming to reverse the decline of the UK’s wild flower meadows was launched at Blenheim Palace.

Just one wildflower meadow can be home to more than 100 species of flower, grass, insects and animals.

The campaign, called 100 Meadows and led by land management consultant James Gillies, encourages people to create a small patch of meadow in their gardens. The idea is that the more people who take part, the bigger the patchwork of habitats the campaign can help to flourish.

Mr Gillies launched the campaign at the Butterfly House in the grounds of Blenheim Palace last month.

He said: “I wanted to start 2018 with a simple goal: I – with your help – want to create 100 new wildflower meadows in the UK this year.”

Natural England estimates that in the 50 years from 1930 to 1980, more than 97 per cent of the meadowland in the UK was lost, and as little as 75,000 hectares remained intact in 2010.

Mr Gillies continued: “I want to take steps to begin to reverse this trend and educate people in how to do this.

“I have three small meadows in my front and back gardens, and I still have room for a lawn for my children to play on, it is really easy to do.

"I want to educate and inspire as many people as possible to take part.”

One of the advantages of the 100 Meadows projects is that the land requirements are as little as five square meters.

If 100 people each create a 100m2 patch of wildflower meadow, that amounts to one hectare of habitat, nectar and pollen.

Mr Gillies insists that meadows are not just pretty to look at, but form crucial habitats.

From insects such as bees to small mammals and birds, wild flower meadows not only house these creatures but also feed a huge variety of animals that the country needs for its functioning food chain.

To take par visit james-gillies.com/100meadowsproject.