Why wildflowers are moving from meadows to the city

The amount of green space for wildflowers in the UK has shrunk amid the rise of modern agriculture. But wildflowers are thriving where other plants can't – cities.

Wildflower meadows are one of the most diverse natural habitats and have been become deeply embedded in ancient folklore, magic and medicine.

But, according to various conservation organisations, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows over the last century. Just over half the UK's native plants have been in decline since records began in the 1950s.

It's not just building over fields – the UK's native species are also having to deal with increasing competition from invasive species, as well as a changing climate.

With their decline in rural areas, can cities be an unlikely saviour?

Where do wildflowers grow?

Wildflowers grow in nature without being planted. But it's important to distinguish wildflowers from weeds, says Cicely Marshall, research fellow at the University of Cambridge's Department of Plant Sciences.

"A weed is any plant growing in the wrong place; one person's weeds are another person's wildflowers," she says.

The decline in wildflowers over the last century is mostly due to agricultural intensification, which includes less grazing and increased use of pesticides and fertilisers, says Nadine Mitschunas, a pollinator ecologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

"Arable land is heavily managed, and everything that's not a crop is taken out," she says.

But all hope is not lost; there seems to be an increasing number of local authorities making space for wildflowers in urban areas. One of the reasons for this, says Mitschunas, is because many are trying to boost biodiversity in cities.

While there historically hasn't been much of a focus on urban areas among ecologists, this is beginning to change, says Rumble.

"There aren't many urban ecologists and it's generally an overlooked area in ecology," she says. "The research is really complicated, with people getting in the way and all the private land, but it's getting more attention as people realise how important nature is for people."

A tale of many habitats

Cities might seem like an unlikely candidate for flowers to thrive – but wildflowers love them.  

Cities are often associated with stress – and only the toughest plants can cope in them. Thankfully, wildflowers thrive on stress. This is because stress keeps the competition down, says Mitschunas, and wildflowers can't cope with lots of competition.

"They need an unstable environment, because in stable environments, only a few species survive," she says.

Also, there are numerous habitats and microclimates within cities – such as pavements, walls, rivers and parks – so different wildflower species can thrive in parts where the conditions are right for them. This also helps bring down the competition, Mitschunas adds.

"In urban areas they can find their niche, because there are all these specialist habitats," she says.  

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