Chertsey Meads

Project Overview

Location: Chilbolton Down Farm, Stockbridge SO20 6BU 
Product Used: Pollen & Nectar Flower Mix 
Project Size: 2 hectares 
Chilbolton Down Farm is an agricultural estate near Stockbridge. The field had previously grown wheat, but had become too small and inefficient for the client’s modern farming machinery. 

Wildflower Co was brought onboard to help establish a pollen and nectar-rich habitat that would support pollinators while also helping the site meet its environmental scheme requirements. 

Installed in spring 2024, the project formed part of a wider approach to sustainable land management, combining environmental value with practical long-term outcomes for the site. 

The key focus of the project was to create a meadow that would maximise food sources for pollinators throughout the flowering season. 

The Work

A grass-free Pollen & Nectar Flower Mix was selected for the site to provide a strong source of food for pollinators while also fitting the farm’s environmental scheme.  

Before sowing, the area was sprayed off and cultivated to create a fine seedbed, helping the new mix establish well from the outset. The seed was then drilled in early April, with warm, wet weather afterwards giving the meadow a particularly strong start. 

Ongoing maintenance has also played an important role in the meadow’s success. Each autumn, the site has been cut and the cut material removed, helping to keep soil fertility down and reduce the spread of unwanted weeds and grasses. 

The Results

The site has delivered two very good years of flowering since installation. In the first year, annual flowers performed strongly, bringing colour across the site through spring and summer. As well as creating an immediate visual impact, they also helped hold back weeds and gave the longer-lasting perennial plants time to establish. 

In the second year, the meadow looked more established, with perennial wildflowers coming through well while still delivering plenty of colour and a biodiverse range of flowers. Across both years, the site has shown a healthy mix of species, and during the summer months the meadow has been full of life, with plenty of bees and butterflies. Surrounded by woodland on three sides and an established hedge on the other, the site has also attracted lots of bird activity. 

Looking Ahead

The meadow at Chilbolton Down Farm is now well established and set up for long-term success. Good preparation, the use of quality seed, well-timed sowing and ongoing maintenance have all helped the project perform exactly as intended. 

As it continues to develop, the meadow is expected to remain species rich, full of colour and continue supporting bees, butterflies and other wildlife, making Chilbolton Down Farm a strong example of how the right mix, careful planning and good aftercare can turn an underused area into a successful wildflower habitat. 

Andy Proctor, Farm Manager said: “I’ve been delighted with the wildflower seed from Wildflower Co.– the quality was excellent, the mix was impressively diverse, and it established strongly from the very start.  

“After three years and the correct management, it continues to thrive, becoming more biodiverse each season while supporting pollinators and wildlife, and the fact that it’s AHL1 compliant makes it a reliable, long-term “buy once” solution for our farm.”