Stratton Wiltshire | BWS21

Harvested Stratton Wiltshire (BWS21)
Harvested Stratton Wiltshire (BWS21)
Harvested Stratton Wiltshire (BWS21)
Harvested Stratton Wiltshire (BWS21)
Harvested Stratton Wiltshire (BWS21)
Harvested Stratton Wiltshire (BWS21)

Stratton Wiltshire, is a harvested mixture from an arable reversion site established in in the 1990’s with seed sourced from Charles Flower. This site is particularly notable for the high density of Horseshoe Vetch and patches of Clustered Bellflower, both indicator species of lowland calcareous grasslands and Pignut for lowland meadows. Harvested later in the season, this mixture has a high content of some fantastic late flowering species such as Wild Marjoram.

The Stratton Wiltshire, harvested wildflower mix became a new addition for us in 2024. Nestled in the picturesque Wylye Valley in Wiltshire, this 5-hectare meadow is a prime example of a thriving wildflower habitat, showcasing a diverse mix of species that bloom throughout the season. On my first visit in late May, I was particularly struck by the abundance of Horseshoe Vetch, a vital plant for the Adonis Blue butterfly, whose caterpillars depend on it exclusively for food. Megan Townley – Wildflower Seed Development Manager

1KG

Price range: £39.00 through £78.00

inc VAT

Date of harvest: August 2025

SKU: WF/COMBINED/21 Category:
  • Establishment History: Pre-2000’s – Arable Reversion
  • Origin: Wylye, Wiltshire
  • Soil Type: Shallow lime-rich soils over chalk

Specification for 2024 harvested stock

Flora
Ladys Bedstraw 48.0%
Wild Marjoram 26.2%
Common Knapweed 5.5%
Pignut 1.8%
Ribwort Plantain 1.6%
Oxeye Daisy 1.1%
Yarrow 0.6%
Fairy Flax 0.4%
Wild Parsnip 0.3%
Smooth Hawksbeard 0.2%
Wild Carrot 0.2%
Common Birdsfoot Trefoil 0.2%
White Clover 0.1%
Meadow Buttercup 0.1%
Hedge Parsley 0.1%
Black Medic 0.06%
Field Scabious 0.03%
Salad Burnett 0.03%
Grass
Bent Grass 1.1%
Timothy 0.6%
Yorkshire Fog 0.3%
Fine Fescue 0.2%
Cocksfoot 0.1%
Tall Oat Grass 0.0%
Perennial Ryegrass 0.03%
Inert Matter (chaff, immature seeds, plant material) 11%

Recommended Sow Rate:

3-5g/m²

500g to cover <100m²

1Kg to cover <200m²

Sowing Method:

1.       Cultivate the area

2.       Spray off weeds which flush or alternatively a light cultivation will reduce vigour of weeds

*Repeat as required to create weed free bed*

3.       Mix seed well in a bag before sowing, dry sand can be added to aid drilling

4.       Ideally broadcast seed or drill at shallow depth

5.       Roll to improve seed-to-soil contact

Once you have sown the mixture, it is very important to manage the growth for the first year. This includes cutting and weeding if possible. If sowing in the autumn, cut the sward when the grass gets established and keep it down to help the flower seeds to germinate. If sowing in the spring, again keep the grass low for the first growing season.

When to sow:

While sowing can occur at either timing, generally speaking, the preferred sowing window is the Autumn as this mirrors nature more accurately. Most perennial wildflowers require vernalisation, a prolonged period of cold, to break dormancy and achieve germination. The winter months after Autumn sowing aids this process. In addition, there is a lower weed burden.

Spring sowing success is reliant on the weather, a cold spring will slow growth and therefore reduce resilience against weeds. However, if warm with moderate rainfall, similar results can be seen as to autumn sowing.

Key to remember:

When sowing wildflowers, the key thing to remember is the cleaner the seed bed the better the success. Wildflowers are often less vigorous than weed species and will struggle to compete against them.

When it comes to fertility, typically speaking wildflower prefer low fertility areas as there is less competition from weeds. However, this does not mean you cannot sow on higher fertility areas, simply more management may be required to control growth and weed ingress.

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