Wildflower meadows are being created at six council-owned parks and nature reserves across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

Volunteers are working with conservation charity Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to spread wildflower seeds at several local parks.

One of the meadows will be created at Chatterley Whitfield Heritage Park, which is around a mile south of Biddulph, just next to Brindley Ford.

Meadows will also be planted at Central Forest Park, Coyney Woods and Holden Lane Pools in Stoke-on-Trent, as well as Bateswood and Lymedale in Newcastle Borough.

The seeds were harvested from the trust's Bateswood Nature Reserve, near Silverdale, in the summer. Ground preparation is being carried this autumn and the first flowers are expected to appear in late spring and summer 2023.

Project manager Liz Peck said: "These new meadows will contain hundreds of nectar-rich wildflowers, which will help to support dwindling populations of pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and moths. In turn, these insects will provide food for wildlife such as birds and bats.

"The wildflower seed mix we collected at Bateswood includes southern marsh orchids, oxeye daisy, ragged robin, common knapweed, common bird's-foot trefoil and yellow rattle. After the ground has been prepared it may look a little bare, but next year we hope to be rewarded with lots of different wildflowers that will support many wild creatures."

Residents are also invited to get involved with the Wilder Stoke Wilder Newcastle (WSWN) project to sow new meadows, as well as other conservation work on local green spaces. The project is being delivered by the trust in in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle Borough Council and more information can be found at www.wilderstokewildernewcastle.co.uk.

Councillor Trevor Johnson, cabinet member for environment and recycling at Newcastle Borough Council, said: "We're delighted to support Staffordshire Wildlife Trust with this exciting project to improve nature, wildlife and biodiversity while also enhancing the appearance of our landscape. The sowing of more wildflower meadow areas, which will increase the number of local sites established in recent years, will help to offset a national decline in these important and diverse habitats while providing food and shelter for many species of wildlife.

"In particular, they provide essential supplies of pollen and nectar for important pollinators such as bees which play a vital role in supporting the eco-system. The more diversity we have in our natural habitats, then the more bees, birds, animals and other insects there will be."

Councillor Carl Edwards, cabinet member for housing and the environment at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Naturalisation of grass verges and areas requires work and occasionally cutting back of grass to help the wild flowers grow.In the last few years we have designated 54 hectares as wild spaces; not only does this add natural beauty to urban areas, but it also plays a serious role in providing food for pollinators.

"As a city council, we are keen to have established wildflower areas across the city. These spaces are integral for biodiversity."